Detection Dogs: An Effective Technique for Bush Dog Surveys |
| |
Authors: | KAREN E DEMATTEO MIGUEL A RINAS MARIANO M SEDE BARBARA DAVENPORT CARINA F ARGÜELLES KEITH LOVETT PATRICIA G PARKER |
| |
Institution: | 1. Ministerio de Ecología RNRyT, Leandro N Alem 4907, 3300 Posadas Misiones, Argentina;2. Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Félix de Azara 1552, CPA 3300LQH, Posadas Misiones, Argentina;3. PackLeader Dog Training LLC, 14401 Crews Road KPN, Gig Harbor, WA 98329, USA;4. Palm Beach Zoo, 1301 Summit Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33405, USA;5. University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of Biology, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA |
| |
Abstract: | ABSTRACT Detailed ecological data on the bush dog (Speothos venaticus) have been lacking, since standard field techniques, such as camera traps, have had little success recording their presence. This study eliminates dependence on visitation rate and switches the focus to locating evidence (e.g., olfactory) associated with the species’ natural behavior and movement patterns. Over a 3-month period, a detection dog located multiple (n = 11, 4 confirmed and 7 potential) bush dog areas in Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest of Misiones Argentina. These positive results demonstrate that detection dogs can provide species-specific data on the bush dog despite the rugged terrain and dense forest vegetation they may occupy. The ecological data collected using this technique allow effective conservation strategies to be developed, wildlife corridors and biological crossings to be designed, and species distributions to be examined. |
| |
Keywords: | Argentina detection dog elusive carnivore neotropical forest scent survey Speothos venaticus |
|
|