Testing of camera trap installation for arboreal mammals -pine marten as an example

Abstract

The camera trap technology was first designed to record animals on the ground
surface. Yet, a lot of species that can be registered might have also arboreal or
semi-arboreal way of life. All the studies in Bulgaria so far were also based
on surveys on the ground surface. That is why a camera trap installation for
arboreal mammals was designed in our current study, aiming identification of
martens on the species and individual level, the pine marten in particular. We
also used the stone marten as an accompanying species, which also climbs trees,
but is not a typical arboreal species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the
first such attempt in Bulgaria. Individual recognition in these two species is
possible, as pine marten and stone marten have a specific shape and location
of the breast spot in each individual. The installation consists of camera traps
(Ltl Acorn 5210A, Bolymedia, Scout Guard - Boly Media SG2060-K, Moultrie
A-Series MCG-13201 and Moultrie M40I models) mounted on suitable trees.
A parallel board and a platform are mounted against the traps, on which the
animal can stand and be photographed in such a way as to provide for their
identification. Each of the upper boards has a measuring line on the side, facing
the camera trap, and on the back – a plastic box with a bait attached. Two types
of bait were tested – the first is a mixture of blood and stale meat soaked towel,
and the second – Premium Lockmittel Marder by Hagopur. The height of the
scientific installation is between 38 and 222 cm, and the distance between the
camera traps and the boards varies from 55 to 150 cm. There is a big difference
in the two values for the distance between the camera traps and the recognition
installation, as 5 different models of camera traps were used. Each model has
different resolution and visualization of the captured frames. The distance
between the two boards varied from 40 to 50 cm and is in accordance with the
body length of the species used as an example. The flash on the Acorn model was
covered with 3 layers of aluminum foil to prevent over-exposure of the photos,
as the flash on this model is very strong at close range. The scientific installation
was set up in 10 locations in each of two mountains - Vitosha and Western
Rhodopes. The project is ongoing since May and the results are expected at the
end of 2020.

Full text

Testing of camera trap installation for
arboreal mammals – pine marten as an
example
Testing of camera trap installation for arboreal
mammals – pine marten as an example
Maya Paraskova*, Nikolay Dolapchiev*, Elitsa Popova*, Nikola Doykin**, Petar Petrov*, Diana Zlatanova*
Introduction
•The camera trap technology was first
designed to record animals on the
ground surface.
•A lot of species that can be registered
might have also arboreal or semi-
arboreal way of life.
•All the studies in Bulgaria so far were
also based on surveys on the ground
surface.
•In our study, a camera trap installation
for arboreal mammals was designed,
aiming identification of martens on the
species and individual level, the pine
marten in particular.
•The stone marten was also considered
in the study, although is not a typical
arboreal species
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such attempt
in Bulgaria. Individual recognition in these two species is
possible, as pine marten and stone marten have a specific
shape and location of the breast spot in each individual.

Materials and Methods
•Study period: The project is ongoing since
May and the results are expected at the end of
2020.
•Location: Vitosha and Western Rhodopi
mountains, 10 locations per mountain.
•Installation:
Camera traps (Ltl Acorn 5210A, Bolymedia,
Scout Guard - Boly Media SG2060-K,
Moultrie A-Series MCG-13201 and Moultrie
M40I models), mounted on suitable trees.
A parallel board and a platform mounted
against the traps, on which the animal can
stand and be photographed in such a way as
to provide for their identification.
Each of the upper boards has a measuring
line on the side, facing the camera trap, and
on the back – a plastic box with a bait
attached.
•Bait: two types were tested – the first is a
mixture of blood and stale meat soaked towel,
and the second – Premium Lockmittel Marder
by Hagopur.

Affiliations:
* – Department of Zoology and anthropology, Faculty of
Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 “Dragan
Tsankov” blvd., Sofia 1164 Bulgaria
** – Nature Park “Vitosha”, 17 "Antim I" str., 1303 Sofia,
Bulgaria
Corresponding author: Maya Paraskova
e-mail: mpasraskova@uni-sofia.bg
The study was conducted within the project: „Individual
recognition and density of pine marten and stone marten in
two working areas“ (contract 80-10-89/2020) funded by The
Scientific Research Fund of SU „St. Kliment Ohridski“
Results
•The height of the scientific installation is
between 38 and 222 cm, and the distance
between the camera traps and the boards
varies from 55 to 150 cm.
•There is a big difference in the two values
for the distance between the camera traps
and the recognition installation, as 5
different models of camera traps were
used.
•The distance between the two boards
varied from 40 to 50 cm and is in
accordance with the body length of the
target species.
•The flash on the Acorn model was covered
with 3 layers of aluminum foil to prevent
over-exposure of the photos, as the flash
on this model is very strong at close range.