红外相机技术在我国野生动物监测中的应用: 问题与限制

红外相机(camera traps)作为对野生动物进行“非损伤”性采样的技术, 已成为研究动物多样性、种群生态学及行为学的常用手段之一。其发展和普及为中国野生动物多样性和物种保育研究带来了诸多机会。如今, 国内大多数自然保护区都在运用红外相机技术开展物种监测工作。本文结合20年来已发表的相关研究, 从内容、实验设计以及发展趋势方面, 总结了目前红外相机技术在应用过程中出现的共性问题; 并就相机对动物的干扰性、影像识别、研究的适用范围及安全保障四个方面, 对该项技术在实践中存在的限制进行了探讨。最后结合红外相机技术未来的发展方向, 提出了建立技术规范、数据集成和共享、影像数据版权维护、提高监测效率等问题。     

探讨我国森林野生动物红外相机监测规范

野生动物多样性是生物多样性监测与保护管理评价的关键指标, 因此对野生动物进行长期监测是中国森林生物多样性监测网络(CForBio)等大尺度生物多样性监测研究计划的一个重要组成部分。2011年以来, CForBio网络陆续在多个森林动态监测样地开展以红外相机来监测野生动物多样性。随着我国野生动物红外相机监测网络的初步形成, 亟待建立和执行基于红外相机技术的统一监测规范。基于3年来在我国森林动态监测样地红外相机监测的进展情况, 以及热带生态评价与监测网络针对陆生脊椎动物(兽类和鸟类)所提出的红外相机监测规范, 本文从监测规范和监测注意事项等方面探讨了我国森林野生动物红外相机监测的现状和未来。     

三江源红外相机社区监测平台概述

三江源红外相机社区监测平台以当地牧民为监测工作的主体, 开展该地区的生物多样性监测、野生动物生态学和行为学研究, 以及基于社区的自然资源管理与保护成效评估。三江源红外相机社区监测平台于2013年10月由北京大学自然保护与社会发展研究中心与山水自然保护中心联合三江源当地社区共同建立与管理。截至2019年6月, 该平台共有有效监测样区9个, 监测覆盖面积7,000多平方公里, 覆盖三江源区域的玉树州全境五县一市和果洛州班玛县, 培养了社区监测队员264名。已处理照片总数252.43万张, 动物独立探测总数12万次, 共识别出30种野生兽类和37种野生鸟类。该平台在调查野生动物多样性本底, 研究雪豹(Panthera uncia)种群密度与动态、雪豹与同域分布的其他食肉动物的关系, 总结社区监测的管理经验等方面取得部分成果。平台未来的工作重点包括总结与发表平台的研究结果、构建云端数据库实现红外相机照片数据的共享与公众参与、打造可互动数据库管理平台和相应监测队员手持客户端以及人工智能辅助下的物种与个体识别。     

四川老河沟保护地2011-2015年野生动物红外相机监测数据集

红外相机技术目前已成为调查、记录陆生大中型兽类和地栖鸟类的最有效方法之一, 为自然保护地的生物多样性编目、野生动物本底调查提供了可靠的数据基础。老河沟保护地位于四川省平武县, 地处岷山山脉中段, 面积110 km², 是大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)、川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)、红喉雉鹑(Tetraophasis obscurus)等珍稀濒危野生动物的自然栖息地。本文汇总、整理了老河沟保护地2011-2015年的红外相机监测记录, 提供了完整的红外相机监测数据集。数据集包括红外相机有效位点130个, 海拔跨度1,317-3,265 m, 总有效相机工作日10,185 d。红外相机拍摄记录159,694条, 其中兽类记录91,839条, 独立有效照片3,017张, 包括分属5目15科的野生兽类28种; 鸟类记录37,775条, 独立有效照片1,311张, 包括分属7目19科的野生鸟类60种; 两栖类记录8条, 独立有效照片2张, 包括1目1科1种; 家畜记录47条, 独立有效照片5张。     

基于红外相机技术调查长青国家级自然保护区兽类和鸟类多样性

野生动物多样性的有效保护与管理,需要大范围、长时间的系统监测网络的支持。红外相机调查技术近年来已成为自然保护区鸟兽调查的最有效工具之一,为了解和掌握区域性乃至全国性的生物多样性现状,提供了最直接和最基础的数据。长青国家级自然保护区位于秦岭南坡,地处秦岭自然保护区群的核心地带。自2008年至2011年,使用被动式红外触发相机调查技术在长青保护区内调查了大中型兽类与鸟类的本底资源。共完成有效调查位点435个,相机工作日15767d。获得兽类有效拍摄3 282次,记录到分属5目12科的21种野生兽类和1种家畜,其中国家一级和二级重点保护野生动物各有5种,被IUCN物种红色名录评估为濒危（EN）、易危（VU）、近危（NT）的物种分别有2、3、4种。食肉目和偶蹄目是本次调查兽类记录中物种数量（分别有9种和7种）和有效拍摄数（分别占兽类有效拍摄数的13.5%和84.0%）最高的两个类群,食肉目中相对多度指数最高的物种是大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca, 12.30）,偶蹄目中最高的物种是羚牛（Budorcas taxicolor, 114.04）。保护区内大型兽类（食肉目和偶蹄目）物种多样性沿海拔梯度,大体呈现中部高、两侧低的单峰模式,海拔1600-2200 m的中等海拔段是大型兽类多样性最高的区域。鸟类有效拍摄191次,记录到分属4目8科的17种鸟类,其中国家二级重点保护野生动物物种8种。鸡形目雉科鸟类是有效拍摄数最高的类群,占全部鸟类拍摄数的79.8%。调查中记录到的林猬（Mesechinus hughi）和鹰雕（Spizaetus nipalensis）为长青自然保护区的新记录种。调查结果提供了较为全面的区内大中型兽类和鸟类群落的本底信息,为后续的保护管理规划和长期监测提供了数据支持和指导。     

利用红外相机监测大熊猫种群恢复区域生物多样性

红外相机是一种经典的野生动物观测手段,具有连续性、非损伤性等一系列优点,可以很好地应用于对大熊猫（Ailuropodamelanoleuca）等重要野生动物物种的监测。2018年8月至2020年10月两年多时间,本研究在位于秦岭山系中段的陕西黄柏塬、观音山与佛坪三个国家级自然保护区中的4条沟谷（大南沟、破碾子沟、大古坪岩屋沟及龙潭子岩屋沟）共架设80台红外相机,对秦岭山系中段大熊猫种群恢复区域的野生动物活动情况进行非损伤性监测。监测期间共获得鸟类与兽类影像34514张,辨认并记录68个物种,包括兽类21种和鸟类47种,在此基础上建立野生动物影像数据库,并利用该数据库分析了监测区域的物种多样性状况。结果显示,研究区域的生物多样性比较丰富,各物种丰度分布较为均匀,鸟类的多样性高于兽类,而均匀性较低;在不同沟谷中,佛坪保护区龙潭子岩屋沟的群落丰富性和均匀性均很高,但动物绝对数量较少,有待进一步调查;观音山保护区破碾子沟的群落丰富性和均匀性则最低,应关注这一区域的生态恢复工作;黄柏塬自然保护区大南沟监测到的野生动物总有效照片数与大熊猫有效照片数均最多,侧面说明其在4条沟谷中生态情况恢复相对较好...     

西南山地红外相机监测网络建设进展

中国西南山地是全球生物多样性热点区。西南山地红外相机监测网络是我国生物多样性监测的区域性红外相机网络之一。该网络由北京大学牵头, 始建于2002年, 合作单位包括科研院所、高校、保护组织、政府部门、保护地管理机构等。网络主要覆盖青藏高原东缘大横断山区域的秦岭、岷山、邛崃山、相岭、凉山、沙鲁里山、云岭7大山系。网络内目前共有41个监测样区, 包括自然保护区、社区保护地、林场等多种类型。网络内监测样区均采用标准的网格化布设规程, 采取统一数据结构与数据库结构、建立离散式数据库进行分散管理的总体架构, 所有监测样区的数据库保持一致的结构和统一的核心字段, 由每个监测样区建立并维护各自独立的数据库。截至2019年12月, 网络内布设有效调查/监测位点5,738个, 已处理数据中调查工作量(以有效相机日计)合计约120.74万天, 积累红外相机照片/视频(删除连续空拍后) 302.59万份, 另有111.16万份待处理。共记录到分属7目21科的63种野生哺乳动物与分属10目35科的182种野生鸟类物种, 其中国家一、二级重点保护野生动物分别有18与39种。西南山地网络今后的重点工作方向包括: (1)基于通用元数据结构建立统一的在线数据库平台; (2)加强网络内保护地数据管理与分析能力建设; (3)为区域内生物多样性保护与保护地管理提供持续支持; (4)针对野生动物种间关系、群落构建机制以及大型食肉动物的生态功能开展深入的动物生态学研究。     

红外相机技术在我国野生动物监测研究中的应用

<正>长期以来,野生动物(特别是兽类)监测面临着极大困难,具体表现在:(1)许多野生动物种群数量日渐减少,甚至濒临灭绝;(2)未经许可,许多珍稀种类禁止采集实体样本;(3)许多动物昼伏夜出,活动隐秘,很难观察到实体,甚至很难发现痕迹;(4)许多动物仅分布在人稀罕至的森林或其他生境中,监测难度大、成本高;(5)野生动物行为习性和生存空间多种多样,难以形成统一的监测方法和技术标准。20世纪90年代以来,"3S"技术、分子生物学技术、数码影像技术(如自动相机技术或红外相机技术     

贵州习水国家级自然保护区红外相机鸟兽监测及活动节律分析

2015年7月至2017年11月,我们利用红外相机对贵州习水国家级自然保护区的鸟类及兽类进行监测。结果表明:(1)共记录到鸟类5目20科56种、兽类5目12科28种,其中国家Ⅰ级重点保护动物有林麝(Moschus berezovskii),国家Ⅱ级重点保护动物有红腹角雉(Tragopan temminckii)、白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)、鹰雕(Nisaetus nipalensis)、中华鬣羚(Capricornis milneedwardsii)等13种。鹰雕为贵州省新记录,白腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus amherstiae)、白眉鸫(Turdus obscurus)等10种为保护区新记录。(2)从中国动物地理区划来看,保护区物种以东洋型(41.67%)为主,南中国型(29.76%)次之;东北型(2.38%)最少。(3)区内4种主要兽类中,毛冠鹿(Elaphodus cephalophus)主要在傍晚活动;赤腹松鼠(Callosciurus erythraeus)日活动节律呈季节性变化,春秋季集中在午间活动,夏季集中在早上活动,冬季则呈现活动双峰,分别是在8:00–10:00及16:00–18:00之间;豪猪(Hystrix brachyura)主要在20:00–24:00之间活动;藏酋猴(Macaca thibetana)秋冬季集中在14:00–16:00活动,而春季则在早上10:00–12:00之间较活跃,夏季也有2个活动高峰,分别是在12:00–14:00及16:00–18:00。2种主要雉类的活动节律明显不同,红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)春夏季都较为集中在午间活动,而秋季主要在6:00–8:00之间;红腹角雉春夏两季活动高峰在早上,秋冬季则是在14:00–16:00之间活动频繁。本监测结果有利于进一步了解和促进此区域的生物多样性及其保护。     

中国的野生动物红外相机监测需要统一的标准

采用及时、可靠的方法对物种开展有效监测是生物多样性保护的基础。红外相机技术可以获得兽类物种的影像、元数据和分布信息, 是监测生物多样性的有效途径。这项技术在野外便于部署, 规程易于标准化, 可提供野生动物凭证标本(影像)以及物种拍摄位置、拍摄日期与时间、拍摄细节(相机型号等)等附属信息。这些特性使得我们可以积累数以百万计的影像资料和野生动物监测数据。在中国, 红外相机技术已得到广泛应用, 众多机构正在使用红外相机采集并存储野生动物影像以及相关联的元数据。目前, 亟需对红外相机元数据结构进行标准化, 以促进不同机构之间以及与外部保护团体之间的数据共享。迄今全球已建立有数个国际数据共享平台, 例如Wildlife Insights, 但他们离不开与中国的合作, 以有效追踪全球可持续发展的进程。达成这样的合作需要3个基础: 共同的数据标准、数据共享协议和数据禁用政策。我们倡议, 中国保护领域的政府主管部门、机构团体一起合作, 共同制定在国内单位之间以及与国际机构之间共享监测数据的政策、机制与途径。     

龙溪—虹口国家级自然保护区兽类和鸟类多样性红外相机调查结果初报

掌握野生动植物本底资源是各级自然保护区生物多样性监测研究和保护管理的重要环节。为了建立龙溪-虹口国家级自然保护区内兽类和鸟类多样性资源的长期监测机制,于2013年9月至2014年11月,我们采用红外相机技术在龙溪沟和虹口峡谷等区域按公里网格布设了57个监测点,调查地面活动的兽类和鸟类。红外相机累计工作达11,847个工作日,共记录到兽类和鸟类物种61种,其中兽类5目12科21种,鸟类3目10科40种,包括猎隼（Falco cherrug）、光背地鸫（Zoothera mollissima）、长尾地鸫（Zoothera dixoni）、灰翅鸫（Turdus boulboul）、锈脸钩嘴鹛（Pomatorhinus erythrogenys）、红嘴鸦雀（Conostoma aemodium）和褐鸦雀（Paradoxornis unicolor）7种鸟类为保护区新记录种。调查到的兽类被列为国家I级和II级重点保护野生动物的分别为4种和5种,被IUCN红色名录评估为“濒危EN”和“易危VU” 的物种各3种,被评为 “近危NT”级别的物种有4种;鸟类被列为国家II级重点保护野生动物的有5种,被IUCN红色名录评估为“濒危EN”的物种有1种。本次调查补充更新了龙溪-虹口自然保护区地栖息鸟类名录,初步了解了保护区内地面活动大中型兽类和鸟类的物种组成和分布,为保护区建立野生动物红外相机常规监测和保护管理提供了基础数据。     

被动声学监测技术在陆生哺乳动物研究中的应用、进展和展望

被动声学监测(passive acoustic monitoring,PAM)技术指将自动录音机安装在自然环境中收集野生动物及其所在环境的声音信号的监测方法。20世纪90年代以来,PAM技术陆续被应用于翼手目和灵长目等陆生哺乳动物的监测和研究,探究了陆生哺乳动物行为学、生态学和保护生物学等方面的科学问题。然而,当前缺乏对这些研究的系统性总结和展望。本文从活动规律和时间分配、栖息地利用、物种分布、种群大小与密度、生物多样性、人为干扰的影响等领域综述了PAM技术在陆生哺乳动物中的研究进展,并列举了相关应用实例。总体上,PAM技术涉及到生物学、生态学、声学、计算机科学等多学科的交叉融合,其应用受限于声学数据的储存和管理、物种或个体自动化识别以及声学指数评估的普适性,设备价格也相对昂贵,这些可能是导致该技术在我国陆生哺乳动物监测和研究方面的应用还相对滞后于其他国家的原因。最后,本文对未来研究方向进行了展望,并建议尽快建立和完善我国陆生哺乳动物PAM网络和数据共享平台、组织开展面对面访问调查或生物多样性保护相关的知识竞赛等公民科学项目、向更多科研机构或保护区推广PAM技术的应用,使该技术成为陆生...     

利用红外相机调查北京松山国家级自然保护区的野生动物物种

红外相机是监测野生动物的有效工具,目前广泛用于兽类资源调查以及动物损害、鸟巢生态学、种群评估、行为生态学等研究领域。为了调查北京松山国家级自然保护区的野生动物,于2010年5—12月采用红外相机进行系统调查,在210个位点放置了红外相机,每台相机在每个地点上放置一个月。研究期间共拍摄到照片2203张,其中73%为兽类,12%为鸟类,13%为工作人员,2%为其它人员。共鉴定出17种兽类(分属5目10科)以及36种鸟类(分属5目17科)。兽类中拍摄率最高的前5种动物分别是岩松鼠(Sciurotamias davidianus)、猪獾(Arctonyx collaris)、豹猫(Prionailurus bengalensis)、狗獾(Meles meles)和貉(Nyctereutes procyonoides),鸟类中拍摄率最高的前5种动物分别是紫啸鸫(Myophonus caeruleus)、雉鸡(Phasianus colchicus)、松鸦(Garrulus glandarius)、勺鸡(Pucrasia macrolopha)和宝兴歌鸫(Turdus mupinensis)。红外相机在不同海拔、不同植被类型以及不同月份所拍摄动物的拍摄率不同:在1000—1400m的海拔段,拍摄率显著高于低海拔(600—1000m)以及中高海拔(1400—1700m);在阔叶林中的拍摄率最高,在针叶林、针阔混交林和灌丛中的拍摄率相似;秋季(8—10月)拍摄率较高,夏季(6—7月)次之,冬季(11—12月)最低。红外相机拍摄到的累积物种数与相机放置的时间成上升曲线,但曲线的增长速率逐渐变缓。研究表明红外相机适合于调查和监测大中型兽类和部分鸟类,所采集的动物数据以及拍摄的图片和视频资料将为保护区的监测、科研和环境教育提供资料。讨论了应用红外相机调查和监测野生动物的技术细节。     

Automated location invariant animal detection in camera trap images using publicly available data sources

1. A time‐consuming challenge faced by camera trap practitioners is the extraction of meaningful data from images to inform ecological management. An increasingly popular solution is automated image classification software. However, most solutions are not sufficiently robust to be deployed on a large scale due to lack of location invariance when transferring models between sites. This prevents optimal use of ecological data resulting in significant expenditure of time and resources to annotate and retrain deep learning models.
2. We present a method ecologists can use to develop optimized location invariant camera trap object detectors by (a) evaluating publicly available image datasets characterized by high intradataset variability in training deep learning models for camera trap object detection and (b) using small subsets of camera trap images to optimize models for high accuracy domain‐specific applications.
3. We collected and annotated three datasets of images of striped hyena, rhinoceros, and pigs, from the image‐sharing websites FlickR and iNaturalist (FiN), to train three object detection models. We compared the performance of these models to that of three models trained on the Wildlife Conservation Society and Camera CATalogue datasets, when tested on out‐of‐sample Snapshot Serengeti datasets. We then increased FiN model robustness by infusing small subsets of camera trap images into training.
4. In all experiments, the mean Average Precision (mAP) of the FiN trained models was significantly higher (82.33%–88.59%) than that achieved by the models trained only on camera trap datasets (38.5%–66.74%). Infusion further improved mAP by 1.78%–32.08%.
5. Ecologists can use FiN images for training deep learning object detection solutions for camera trap image processing to develop location invariant, robust, out‐of‐the‐box software. Models can be further optimized by infusion of 5%–10% camera trap images into training data. This would allow AI technologies to be deployed on a large scale in ecological applications. Datasets and code related to this study are open source and available on this repository: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1c59zw3tx.

     

运用红外相机调查云南巍山青华绿孔雀自然保护区的鸟兽多样性

2016年10月至2017年9月, 作者在云南巍山青华绿孔雀自然保护区的核心区和缓冲区的28个监测位点布设红外相机, 累计监测6,377台日, 共获得独立有效照片1,692张, 其中兽类563张, 鸟类1,129张。鉴定出71种鸟类和兽类, 其中兽类13种, 分属5目11科; 鸟类58种, 分属9目23科。国家一级重点保护动物有2种, 即黑颈长尾雉(Syrmaticus humiae)和林麝(Moschus berezovskii); 国家二级重点保护动物有7种, 分别是黄喉貂(Martes flavigula)、松雀鹰(Accipiter virgatus)、普通鵟(Buteo japonicus)、白腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus amherstiae)、白鹇(Lophuar nycthemera)、领角鸮(Otus lettia)和灰林鸮(Strix aluco)。在《中国脊椎动物红色名录》中, 1种被评估为极危, 3种被评估为易危。CITES附录I收录的有1种, 附录II收录的有7种。物种相对丰富度最高的是黑领噪鹛(Garrulax pectoralis, 5.68), 其次是赤腹松鼠(Callosciurus erythraeus, 2.81)、赤麂(Muntiacus muntjak, 1.68)。本次物种调查结果可反映本保护区大、中型兽类和地栖性鸟类本底, 为保护区管理和野生动物长期监测提供了数据。     

Richness and composition of terrestrial mammals vary in eucalyptus plantations due to stand age

Plantation forests substitute natural habitats and have rotation cycles of 7 years due to their high growth rates. This variation reflects on local and landscape changes, influencing habitat availability and affecting mammal communities. In this study, our general hypothesis was that the richness and composition of mammals varied in eucalyptus plantations in relation to native forest patches and in relation to the age of eucalyptus plantations. We predicted that (1) there would be lower mammalian richness and compositional differences in eucalyptus plantations compared to native vegetation due to monocultures having simplified environmental characteristics and (2) predicted that the richness and composition would vary according to eucalyptus age and that the highest values of richness would be found in plantations of up to middle age, considering that in these phases there are environmental characteristics that positively qualify these structures for a greater presence of fauna, such as the shrubby aspect of the plantations and the presence of undergrowth. We performed model selection to observe the effect of environmental variables on mammalian richness. We also performed a multivariate permutational analysis of variance, a non-metric multidimensional scaling and partitioned the beta diversity to observe how the composition was influenced by environmental variables. We found greater richness in the native vegetation compared to eucalyptus plantations. The richness of the plantations varied according to the age, with higher values up to middle age. The composition varied according to the land user/cover, with the eucalyptus age and with the management unit due to the nestedness of species. We suggest that eucalyptus plantations at early ages are more used by mammals due to the shrubby aspect of the stand, generating a positive visual effect for the search of resources and shelter, in addition to the possibility of the occurrence of grasses, some understory and lower anthropogenic disturbance.     

A comparison of camera trap and permanent recording video camera efficiency in wildlife underpasses

In the current context of biodiversity loss through habitat fragmentation, the effectiveness of wildlife crossings, installed at great expense as compensatory measures, is of vital importance for ecological and socio‐economic actors. The evaluation of these structures is directly impacted by the efficiency of monitoring tools (camera traps…), which are used to assess the effectiveness of these crossings by observing the animals that use them. The aim of this study was to quantify the efficiency of camera traps in a wildlife crossing evaluation. Six permanent recording video systems sharing the same field of view as six Reconyx HC600 camera traps installed in three wildlife underpasses were used to assess the exact proportion of missed events (event being the presence of an animal within the field of view), and the error rate concerning underpass crossing behavior (defined as either Entry or Refusal). A sequence of photographs was triggered by either animals (true trigger) or artefacts (false trigger). We quantified the number of false triggers that had actually been caused by animals that were not visible on the images (“false” false triggers). Camera traps failed to record 43.6% of small mammal events (voles, mice, shrews, etc.) and 17% of medium‐sized mammal events. The type of crossing behavior (Entry or Refusal) was incorrectly assessed in 40.1% of events, with a higher error rate for entries than for refusals. Among the 3.8% of false triggers, 85% of them were “false” false triggers. This study indicates a global underestimation of the effectiveness of wildlife crossings for small mammals. Means to improve the efficiency are discussed.     

Tools of the trade to aid decision-making for species survival

As wildlife populations and habitats continue to diminish at alarming rates all over the world, those responsible for wildlife management recognize that global, integrated, multi-dimensional strategies must be developed to respond to the escalating crisis that the world's biodiversity is facing. It is also recognized that resources available for the preservation of the world's biodiversity are limited and must be carefully apportioned not only where they are most needed but also where they can do the most good. Concomitantly, if current rates of extinction are to be slowed, global cooperation and coordination of efforts for species preservation are essential. In response to these challenges, the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) of IUCN's Species Survival Commission has assisted in the development and application of a series of tools and processes to expedite the development of scientifically-based management strategies for threatened species. These tools, based on small population and conservation biology, are used in intensive, problem-solving workshop processes designed to contribute to the development of realistic and achievable strategies for species conservation. The primary tools used by the CBSG include: (i) providing an objective workshop environment and a facilitation process that supports sharing of available information, reaching agreement on the issues, available information, and useful management recommendations; (ii) the Mace-Lande criteria for evaluation of threat, and, currently their derivative draft IUCN Red List criteria for threat; (iii) VORTEX, a stochastic, small population simulation modelling program (developed by Dr Robert Lacy of the Chicago Zoological Society) that considers genetics, demography, and environmental variation; (iv) topographic maps and Geographical Information System (GIS) tools to organize and visually to present species distribution information in relation to habitat, land use, and local human population distribution; and (v) demographic analysis of the local human populations with projections of growth patterns. The workshop processes employing these tools include: (i) Conservation Assessment and Management Planning (CAMP); and (ii) Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA). These processes have assisted in scientific decision-making and setting of priorities for species management activities aimed at halting the on-going decline in the planet's biodiversity. Recommendations for intensive management stemming from CAMP and PHVA workshops are as varied as the species analysed. This Papers presents case summaries that demonstrate how these tools and workshop processes have aided in the formulation of holistic and viable conservation strategies for threatened species and lessons that have been learned in the process.     

Comparing motion capture cameras versus human observer monitoring of mammal movement through fence gaps: a case study from Kenya

Monitoring the movement and distribution of wildlife is a critical tool of an adaptive management framework for wildlife conservation. We installed motion‐triggered cameras to capture the movement of mammals through two purpose‐built migration gaps in an otherwise fenced conservancy in northern Kenya. We compared the results to data gathered over the same time period (1 Jan 2011–31 Dec 2012) by the human observers monitoring mammal tracks left at the same fence gaps in a sandy loam detection strip. The camera traps detected more crossing events, more species and more individuals of each species per crossing event than did the human track observers. We tested for volume detection differences between methods for the five most common species crossing each gap and found that all detection rates were heavily weighted towards the camera‐trap method. We review some of the discrepancies between the methods and conclude that although the camera traps record more data, the management of that data can be time‐consuming and ill‐suited to some time‐sensitive decision‐making. We also discuss the importance of daily track monitoring for adaptive management conservation and community security.