The Use of Camera Traps in Wildlife

Abstract

Camera traps are increasingly used in the abundance and density estimates of wildlife species. Camera traps are very good alternative for direct observation in case, particularly, steep terrain, dense vegetation covered areas or nocturnal species. The main reason for the use of camera traps is eliminated that the economic, personnel and time loss in a continuous manner at the same time in different points. Camera traps, motion and heat sensitive, can take a photo or video according to the models. Crossover points and feeding or mating areas of the focal species are addressed as a priority camera trap set locations. The population size can be finding out by the images combined with Capture-Recapture methods. The population density came out the population size divided to effective sampling area size. Mating and breeding season, habitat choice, group structures and survival rates of the focal species can be achieved from the images. Camera traps are very useful to obtain the necessary data about the particularly mysterious species with economically in planning and conservation efforts.

Keywords

• Camera trap
• population density
• habitat use

Yaban Hayatı Çalışmalarında Fotokapan Kullanımı

Abstract

Fotokapanlar tür araştırmalarında, bolluk ve yoğunluk tahminlerinde giderek artan bir şekilde kullanılmaktadır. Fotokapanlar özellikle sarp arazilerde, yoğun vejetasyonla kaplı alanlarda ya da hedef türün geceleri daha fazla aktif olması durumlarında doğrudan gözlemlere çok iyi bir alternatiftir. Fotokapanların kullanımının en temel nedeni farklı noktalarda, aynı anda ve sürekli bir şekilde gözlem yapılmasının doğuracağı ekonomik, personel ve zaman kaybını ortadan kaldırmasıdır. Harekete ve ısıya duyarlı fotokapanlar modellerine göre fotoğraf veya video kaydı yapabilmektedirler. Fotokapanların kurulum noktaları tespit edilirken hedef türün geçit noktaları, beslenme ya da çiftleşme noktaları öncelikli olarak ele alınmaktadır. Elde edilen görüntüler yakalama-yeniden yakalama örneklem metodu (Capture-Recapture) ile kombine edilerek hedef türün popülasyon büyüklüğü ortaya konulmaktadır. Popülasyon büyüklüğünün etkili örnekleme alanına bölünmesi ile popülasyon yoğunluğu tespit edilebilmektedir. Ayrıca, temin edilen görüntülerden hedef türün çiftleşme zamanı, habitat tercihi, doğum zamanı ve yavru durumları, grup yapıları ve hayatta kalma oranları hakkında da veriler elde edilebilir. Planlama ve koruma çalışmaları bazında ele alındığında genel olarak fotokapanlar özellikle doğrudan gözlemi zor olan gizemli türlerle ilgili gerekli verilerin elde edilmesine ve bunun ekonomik bir yolla yapılmasına ciddi manada katkı sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Fotokapan
• popülasyon yoğunluğu
• habitat kullanımı

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