基于视频监控系统的欧亚水獭活动节律初报及红外相机监测效果评估

欧亚水獭(Lutra lutra)是淡水生态系统保护的旗舰物种, 目前三江源或为其在中国仅存的连片栖息地之一。然而, 该区域欧亚水獭基础生态学信息尚属空白, 已开展的工作也多依赖于红外相机而可靠性有待评估。本文基于2018-2020年间在青海玉树通过视频监控系统和红外相机收集到的数据, 在分析区内水獭活动节律的同时, 对红外相机监测的有效性和准确性进行了评估。结果表明, 在玉树, 欧亚水獭在每日17时至次日9时活动频率较高, 每年12月至次年6月间拍摄频率较高; 繁殖期或随每年10月个体交配而开始, 至次年6月幼崽独立而终止。红外相机约可捕获69.18%的水獭出现事件, 且拍摄率随事件持续时间的延长而提高; 通过红外相机可以准确地描述出水獭活动节律, 仅有约半数红外相机影像可以准确还原事件主题(56.28%)和多只个体参与的事件中的个体数量(49.35%)。因此, 在使用红外相机对欧亚水獭进行行为学研究时应对这一情况进行充分考虑。

Using surveillance cameras to analyze the activity pattern of the Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) and the efficiency of camera trap monitoring

Aim: The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a flagship species for global freshwater ecosystems. As one of the most widely distributed Palearctic mammals, the otter used to inhabit most provinces in China. However, after decades of relentless hunting and habitat degradation, the Sanjiangyuan Region is now one of last strongholds for this species in China. Currently, there still remains an enormous knowledge gap in basic information about this species. Available field information has mostly been acquired through camera trapping, and the reliability of this method is still being questioned considering the revealed underperformance in the monitoring for otters.