TY - JOUR

T1 - A review of camera trapping for conservation behaviour research

AU - Caravaggi, A.

AU - Banks, P.B.

AU - Burton, A.C.

AU - Finlay, C.M.V.

AU - Haswell, Peter

AU - Hayward, Matthew

AU - Rowcliffe, J.M.

AU - Wood, M.D.

PY - 2017/9

Y1 - 2017/9

N2 - An understanding of animal behaviour is important if conservation initiatives are to be effective. However, quantifying the behaviour of wild animals presents significant challenges. Remote-sensing camera traps are becoming increasingly popular survey instruments that have been used to non-invasively study a variety of animal behaviours, yielding key insights into behavioural repertoires. They are well-suited to ethological studies and provide considerable opportunities for generating conservation-relevant behavioural data if novel and robust methodological and analytical solutions can be developed. This paper reviews the current state of camera-trap-based ethological studies, describes new and emerging directions in camera-based conservation behaviour, and highlights a number of limitations and considerations of particular relevance for camera-based studies. Three promising areas of study are discussed: i) documenting anthropogenic impacts on behaviour; ii) incorporating behavioural responses into management planning; and iii) using behavioural indicators such as giving up densities and daily activity patterns. We emphasise the importance of reporting methodological details, utilising emerging camera trap metadata standards and central data repositories for facilitating reproducibility, comparison and synthesis across studies. Behavioural studies using camera traps are in their infancy; the full potential of the technology is as yet unrealised. Researchers are encouraged to embrace conservation-driven hypotheses in order to meet future challenges and improve the efficacy of conservation and management processes.

AB - An understanding of animal behaviour is important if conservation initiatives are to be effective. However, quantifying the behaviour of wild animals presents significant challenges. Remote-sensing camera traps are becoming increasingly popular survey instruments that have been used to non-invasively study a variety of animal behaviours, yielding key insights into behavioural repertoires. They are well-suited to ethological studies and provide considerable opportunities for generating conservation-relevant behavioural data if novel and robust methodological and analytical solutions can be developed. This paper reviews the current state of camera-trap-based ethological studies, describes new and emerging directions in camera-based conservation behaviour, and highlights a number of limitations and considerations of particular relevance for camera-based studies. Three promising areas of study are discussed: i) documenting anthropogenic impacts on behaviour; ii) incorporating behavioural responses into management planning; and iii) using behavioural indicators such as giving up densities and daily activity patterns. We emphasise the importance of reporting methodological details, utilising emerging camera trap metadata standards and central data repositories for facilitating reproducibility, comparison and synthesis across studies. Behavioural studies using camera traps are in their infancy; the full potential of the technology is as yet unrealised. Researchers are encouraged to embrace conservation-driven hypotheses in order to meet future challenges and improve the efficacy of conservation and management processes.

KW - Ethology

KW - Remote sensing

KW - Anthropogenic Impacts

KW - Behavioural Indicators

KW - Monitoring

KW - Management

U2 - /10.1002/rse2.48

DO - /10.1002/rse2.48

M3 - Article

VL - 3

SP - 109

EP - 122

JO - Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation

JF - Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation

SN - 2056-3485

IS - 3

ER -