Evaluation of scent-station surveys to monitor the distribution of three European carnivore species ( Martes foina, Meles meles, Vulpes vulpes) in a fragmented landscape

Abstract

Scent-stations are frequently used in North and South America to monitor carnivore populations, and their efficacy has been widely tested on various species. On the other hand, scent-stations have rarely been used to monitor European species and their efficacy has never been tested. Therefore, an acritical use on Eurasiatic species may lead to biased results, but also a neglection of this technique may limit methodological improvements. We evaluated scent-stations detection efficacy on three eurasiatic species: badger ( Meles meles), fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and beech marten ( Martes foina) using data from a carnivore patch-use survey conducted in a fragmented landscape in the Province of Siena, central Italy. Scent-station survey data was compared with distribution data obtained from the utilisation of different techniques (track and camera trap surveys and interviews with local people) and an estimate of proportion of sites occupied inferred through the application of occupancy models. We show how by using scent-stations, fox distribution was largely underestimated, badger distribution was biased (this species was missed in small fragments) while beech marten ( Martes foina) distribution was relatively unbiased. We conclude that application of this technique should follow a pilot study and cost/benefits should be carefully considered.