Biodiv Sci ›› 2014, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (6): 704-711.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2014.14075

Special Issue: 野生动物的红外相机监测

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Developing camera-trapping protocols for wildlife monitoring in Chinese forests

Zhishu Xiao1,*(), Xinhai Li1, Xuezhi Wang2, Qihai Zhou3, Ruichang Quan4, Xiaoli Shen5, Sheng Li6   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101
    2. Computer Network Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190
    3. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541004
    4. Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan 666303
    5.State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093
    6 School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871
  • Received:2014-04-10 Accepted:2014-10-08 Online:2014-11-20 Published:2014-12-11
  • Contact: Xiao Zhishu

Abstract:

Wildlife monitoring is one key indicator used for biodiversity assessment. Therefore, developing wildlife monitoring protocols is an important component of large-scale biodiversity monitoring program such as the Chinese Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Network (CForBio). Since 2011, the CForBio Network launched an initiative to investigate wildlife diversity using camera traps among forest dynamic plots in China. Because of this initiative, there is an urgent need to develop standardized camera trapping protocols. One important premise of camera-trapping protocols is that camera trap data can be used to conduct comparative research among different plots. Here, we propose camera-trapping protocols based on our own experience in using camera traps for wildlife surveys, and on the terrestrial vertebrate (camera trap) protocol implementation manual produced by the TEAM (Tropical Ecology Assessment & Monitoring) Network. We hope that these protocols can serve as the basis for a standardized tool used in wildlife diversity monitoring in forest ecosystems. We also provide recommendations for plot design, data management and long-term monitoring programs for wildlife diversity monitoring.

Key words: camera-trapping, Chinese Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Network, wildlife monitoring, monitoring protocols