Abstract:

Infrared-triggered camera-trapping has been widely used for wildlife research. The development of this technology has helped facilitate contemporary biodiversity research and helped with conservation efforts in China. To promote the application of infrared-triggered camera-trapping in wildlife monitoring and research in China, the Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry added a wildlife camera-trapping database in Nature Reserves Biological Specimen Resources Sharing Sub-platform, that is publicly available at the website of http://www.papc.cn/. This paper briefly introduces the sub-platform by summarizing field areas being monitored, the monitoring program, how data is stored and analyzed, an introduction of achievements accomplished, and a summary of the next work plan. From 2010 to 2019, the sub-platform used infrared camera technology to investigate the diversity of mammals and birds in 13 different protected areas in China. This included 272,500 camera days 84,100 independent photographs, and the identification of 80 mammals species and 200 bird species. These recordings helped with animal behavior research, detection of rare species, understanding the effects of human disturbance and climate change, as well as with research in other fields. The next steps will be for the sub-platform to set up the sharing platform of camera-trapping database for nature protected areas, formulate unified and standardized plans for infrared camera survey design, monitor technology and data format, and work on gradually improving the infrared camera monitoring network for wildlife in China’s protected areas.

Key words: camera trapping, wildlife monitoring, species list, nature protected area, data sharing