1
|
Dytkowicz M, Hinds R, Megill WM, Buttschardt TK, Rosell F. A camera trapping method for the targeted capture of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) tails for individual scale pattern recognition. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01654-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Camera traps are commonly used to monitor and study wild animals in their natural habitat, with minimal disturbance. Several investigations have shown that the natural markings of animals for some species can be used for individual recognition. However, most commercially available cameras are unable to obtain photos of sufficient quality to highlight these features. Our study further exemplifies the use of applying an external lens to a camera, to obtain higher quality images. We tested various lenses and their ability to record the scale patterns on Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) tails, for individual identification. We tested eleven different commercially available camera trap models, across six different beaver territories in the Districts of Kleve and Wesel (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). The use of an external lens, attached to the camera, produced the best quality pictures for reliable identification of individual beavers based on the scale patterns on their tales. These results further exemplify the application of external lenses for improving image quality for individual recognition which has potential applications for other species.
Collapse
|
2
|
Mayer M, Lian M, Fuchs B, Robstad CA, Evans AL, Perrin KL, Greunz EM, Laske TG, Arnemo JM, Rosell F. Retention and loss of PIT tags and surgically implanted devices in the Eurasian beaver. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:219. [PMID: 35689280 PMCID: PMC9188177 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03333-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Passive integrated transponder devices (PIT tags) are a valuable tool for individual identification of animals. Similarly, the surgical implantation of transmitters and bio-loggers can provide useful data on animal location, physiology and behavior. However, to avoid unnecessary recapture and related stress of study animals, PIT tags and bio-loggers should function reliably for long periods of time. Here, we evaluated the retention of PIT tags, and of very high frequency (VHF) transmitters and bio-loggers that were either implanted subcutaneously or into the peritoneal cavity of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber). RESULTS Over a 21-year period, we implanted PIT tags in 456 individuals and failed to detect a PIT tag at recapture in 30 cases, consisting of 26 individuals (6% of individuals). In all instances, we were still able to identify the individual due to the presence of unique ear tag numbers and tail scars. Moreover, we implanted 6 VHFs, 36 body temperature loggers and 21 heart rate loggers in 28 individuals, and experienced frequent loss of temperature loggers (at least 6 of 23 recaptured beavers) and heart rate loggers (10 of 18 recaptured beavers). No VHFs were lost in 2 recaptured beavers. CONCLUSIONS Possible causes for PIT tag loss (or non-detection) were incorrect implantation, migration of the tag within the body, a foreign body reaction leading to ejection, or malfunctioning of the tag. We speculate that logger loss was related to a foreign body reaction, and that loggers were either rejected through the incision wound or, in the case of temperature loggers, possibly adhered and encapsulated to intestines, and then engulfed by the gastro-intestinal tract and ejected. We discuss animal welfare implications and give recommendations for future studies implanting bio-loggers into wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mayer
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway.
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410, Rønde, Denmark.
| | - Marianne Lian
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway
| | - Boris Fuchs
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway
| | - Christian A Robstad
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - Alina L Evans
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway
| | - Kathryn L Perrin
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido, CA, USA
| | - Eva M Greunz
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Timothy G Laske
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Jon M Arnemo
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Frank Rosell
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Robstad CA, Lodberg-Holm HK, Mayer M, Rosell F. The impact of bio-logging on body weight change of the Eurasian beaver. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261453. [PMID: 34941892 PMCID: PMC8699976 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bio-logging is a common method to collect ecological data on wild animals, but might also induce stress, reduce body condition, and alter behavior. Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) are a semi-aquatic and nocturnal species that are challenging to observe in the wild. Bio-loggers are hence useful tools to study their behaviour and movements, but this raises concerns of potential negative impacts of tagging. To investigate the potential negative impacts of glue-on tags, we compared body weight change for tagged and untagged Eurasian beavers. We hypothesized that tagged beavers would gain less body weight compared to untagged beavers, and that weight change might be affected by tagging length, tag weight, water temperature and the season of tagging. Daily percentage body weight change in relation to initial body weight during the first capture was compared during 57 tagging periods (18±7 days) and 32 controls periods (64±47 days). Body weight change varied between the two groups, with untagged beavers on average gaining daily weight whilst tagged beavers on average lost weight daily, indicating a negative effect of tagging. The average reduction in percentage body weight change per day for tagged beavers was small (0.1 ± 0.3%), and with large individual variation. Neither tag weight, number of tagging days, nor season were important in explaining body weight change of tagged animals. In other words, we found that tagging reduced daily body weight during the tagging period but were unable to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for this decline. Detrimental effects of tagging have important implications for animal welfare and can introduce bias in data that are collected. This calls for careful consideration in the use of tags. We conclude that studies investigating the effects of tagging should consider individual variation in the effects of tagging and, where possible, compare tagged animals with a control group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Andre Robstad
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
| | - Hanna Kavli Lodberg-Holm
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
| | - Martin Mayer
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Rønde, Denmark
| | - Frank Rosell
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Matykiewicz BR, Windels SK, Olson BT, Plumb RT, Wolf TM, Ahlers AA. Assessing translocation effects on the spatial ecology and survival of muskrats Ondatra zibethicus. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R. Matykiewicz
- B. R. Matykiewicz (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3677-576X) ✉ and A. A. Ahlers, Dept of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Steve K. Windels
- S. K. Windels, B. T. Olson and R. T. Plumb, National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA. BTO also at: Ressurs Consulting LLC, Fertile, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bryce T. Olson
- S. K. Windels, B. T. Olson and R. T. Plumb, National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA. BTO also at: Ressurs Consulting LLC, Fertile, Minnesota, USA
| | - Reid T. Plumb
- S. K. Windels, B. T. Olson and R. T. Plumb, National Park Service, Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA. BTO also at: Ressurs Consulting LLC, Fertile, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tiffany M. Wolf
- T. M. Wolf, Veterinary Population Medicine Dept, College of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Adam A. Ahlers
- B. R. Matykiewicz (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3677-576X) ✉ and A. A. Ahlers, Dept of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Long-term capture and handling effects on body condition, reproduction and survival in a semi-aquatic mammal. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17886. [PMID: 33087816 PMCID: PMC7578049 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74933-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In long-term individual-based field studies, several parameters need to be assessed repeatedly to fully understand the potential fitness effects on individuals. Often studies only evaluate capture stress that appears in the immediate weeks or breeding season and even long-term studies fail to evaluate the long-term effects of their capture procedures. We investigated effects of long-term repeated capture and handling of individuals in a large semi-aquatic rodent using more than 20 years of monitoring data from a beaver population in Norway. To investigate the effects, we corrected for ecological factors and analysed the importance of total capture and handling events, years of monitoring and deployment of telemetry devices on measures related to body condition, reproduction and survival of individual beavers. Body mass of dominant individuals decreased considerably with number of capture events (107 g per capture), but we found no statistically clear short or long-term effects of capture and handling on survival or other body condition indices. Annual litter size decreased with increasing number of captures among older individuals. Number of captures furthermore negatively affected reproduction in the beginning of the monitoring, but the effect decreased over the years, indicating habituation to repeated capture and handling. By assessing potential impacts on several fitness-related parameters at multiple times, we can secure the welfare of wild animal populations when planning and executing future conservation studies as well as ensure ecologically reliable research data.
Collapse
|
6
|
Barela I, Burger LM, Taylor J, Evans KO, Ogawa R, McClintic L, Wang G. Relationships between survival and habitat suitability of semi-aquatic mammals. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4867-4875. [PMID: 32551067 PMCID: PMC7297760 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial distribution and habitat selection are integral to the study of animal ecology. Habitat selection may optimize the fitness of individuals. Hutchinsonian niche theory posits the fundamental niche of species would support the persistence or growth of populations. Although niche-based species distribution models (SDMs) and habitat suitability models (HSMs) such as maximum entropy (Maxent) have demonstrated fair to excellent predictive power, few studies have linked the prediction of HSMs to demographic rates. We aimed to test the prediction of Hutchinsonian niche theory that habitat suitability (i.e., likelihood of occurrence) would be positively related to survival of American beaver (Castor canadensis), a North American semi-aquatic, herbivorous, habitat generalist. We also tested the prediction of ideal free distribution that animal fitness, or its surrogate, is independent of habitat suitability at the equilibrium. We estimated beaver monthly survival probability using the Barker model and radio telemetry data collected in northern Alabama, United States from January 2011 to April 2012. A habitat suitability map was generated with Maxent for the entire study site using landscape variables derived from the 2011 National Land Cover Database (30-m resolution). We found an inverse relationship between habitat suitability index and beaver survival, contradicting the predictions of niche theory and ideal free distribution. Furthermore, four landscape variables selected by American beaver did not predict survival. The beaver population on our study site has been established for 20 or more years and, subsequently, may be approaching or have reached the carrying capacity. Maxent-predicted increases in habitat use and subsequent intraspecific competition may have reduced beaver survival. Habitat suitability-fitness relationships may be complex and, in part, contingent upon local animal abundance. Future studies of mechanistic SDMs incorporating local abundance and demographic rates are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Barela
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSUSA
- Siskiyou County Department of AgricultureYrekaCAUSA
| | - Leslie M. Burger
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSUSA
| | - Jimmy Taylor
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection ServiceOregon Field StationNational Wildlife Research CenterCorvallisORUSA
| | - Kristine O. Evans
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSUSA
| | - Ryo Ogawa
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSUSA
| | - Lance McClintic
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSUSA
- Present address:
United States Department of AgricultureWest Virginia Farm Service AgencyRomneyWVUSA
| | - Guiming Wang
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSUSA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D. Gable
- Voyageurs National Park; 360 Highway 11 E International Falls MN 56649 USA
| | - Steve K. Windels
- Voyageurs National Park; 360 Highway 11 E International Falls MN 56649 USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Short-term effects of tagging on activity and movement patterns of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1051-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
9
|
Windels SK, Belant JL. Performance of tail-mounted transmitters on American beaversCastor canadensisin a northern climate. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
|