Abstract
Quantitative data on local variation in patterns of occurrence of common carnivore species, such as the red fox, European badger, or martens in central Europe are largely missing. We conducted a study focusing on carnivore ecology and distribution in a cultural landscape with the use of modern technology. We placed 73 automated infra-red camera traps into four different habitats differing in water availability and canopy cover (mixed forest, wetland, shrubby grassland and floodplain forest) in the Polabí region near Prague, Czech Republic. Each habitat was represented by three or four spatially isolated sites within which the camera traps were distributed. During the year of the study, we recorded nine carnivore species, including the non-native golden jackal. Habitats with the highest numbers of records pooled across all species were wetland (1279) and shrubby grassland (1014); fewer records were made in mixed (876) and floodplain forest (734). Habitat had a significant effect on the number of records of badger and marten, and a marginally significant effect on fox. In terms of seasonal dynamics, there were significant differences in the distribution of records among seasons in fox, marginally significant in least weasel, and the occurrence among seasons did not differ for badger and marten. In the summer, fox and marten were more active than expected by chance during the day, while the pattern was opposite in winter when they were more active during the night. Our findings on habitat preferences and circadian and seasonal activity provided the first quantitative data on patterns whose existence was assumed on the basis of conventional wisdom. Our study demonstrates the potential of a long-term monitoring approach based on infra-red camera traps. Generally, the rather frequent occurrence of recorded species indicates that most carnivore species are thriving in current central-European landscapes characterized by human-driven disturbances and urbanization.
Highlights
In the last decade, field research of mammals has principally changed with the invention of automated camera traps, which are becoming a standard monitoring tool (O’Connell et al 2011, Burton et al 2015)
While most studies using camera traps have focused on a particular species, habitat type, activity or behaviour (e.g. Ahumada et al 2011, Manzo et al 2011, Braczkowski et al 2016), complex studies addressing diversity, species composition and behaviour across habitat types are missing
Camera traps proved useful for discovering and monitoring the presence and behaviour of species spreading from other regions, such as the golden jackal, Canis aureus (Pyšková et al 2016)
Summary
Field research of mammals has principally changed with the invention of automated camera traps, which are becoming a standard monitoring tool (O’Connell et al 2011, Burton et al 2015). In the Czech Republic, most attention has been paid to large and rare carnivore species, such as the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and the gray wolf (Canis lupus), iconic representatives of a charismatic group of animals and the focus of nature conservation (Baruš et al 1989, Kutal et al 2016, Kutal 2017). These carnivores began returning to this country in the 1990s from neighbouring regions and have established viable populations. We know little about how these animals adapt to the heavily inhabited modern environment
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