Testing the Ability of Dogs to Detect Different Odor Concentrations of the Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis) in Japan.

Megumi Fukuzawa,Koki Shibata

doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.590834

Abstract

The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) is regarded as a problem in the Ogasawara Islands. The decision to use eradication measures depends on the limit of detection at low densities. We tested the ability of two dogs to discriminate the odor of anole to assess the possibility of using dogs to detect anoles at low densities. The two dogs were trained to discriminate the basic target odor concentration (512 anoles/ha) on 10-g coconut peat sachets. When they reached 100% accuracy, they were tested at different odor concentrations (densities of 385, 256, 128, 26, and 3 anoles/ha). During training, both dogs achieved 100% accuracy after 2 daily sessions in only 2 days. They were able to select the positive odor concentration sachet, and their accuracy was from 75 to 100%. We believe that testing using soil from sites of high anole high density and at the limit of detection in the Ogasawara Islands will be useful.

Highlights

The Ogasawara Islands consist of more than 30 archipelagos in 5 groups, with a total land area of 7,939 hectares
We examined the effect of session on the average search time of a dog’s correct and incorrect choices in training by the same test
The correct answer rate for the first session was different for the two dogs; with 85% (17/20) for Labrador Retriever and 95% (19/20) for German Shepherd dog

Summary

Introduction

The Ogasawara Islands consist of more than 30 archipelagos in 5 groups, with a total land area of 7,939 hectares. These islands’ ecosystems clearly reflect the evolutionary processes of many endemic species, and the islands were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2011 [1]. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment, listed the Carolina anole as an invasive alien species in Japan in June 2005, barring its spread to new islands and setting natural regeneration zones in remaining habitats of native insects. The anole population density on Anijima is at most only 1/10 of that on Chichijima, it is difficult to judge the success of eradication when the density is so low

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Conclusion