Set AHDriFT: Applying game cameras to drift fences for surveying herpetofauna and small mammals

摘要: The use of game cameras by wildlife biologists and managers to survey wildlife, particularly medium- large-bodied mammals, has increased dramatically. Previous attempts small mammals ectotherms have had limited detection success or were focused solely on a single species. We describe the Adapted-Hunt Drift Fence Technique (AHDriFT), which combines commercially available traditional drift fences reptiles, amphibians, mammals. Across 4,502 trap-nights at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA (Jun 2014 Jun 2015), we recorded images for 2,523 unique vertebrate detections (2% unidentifiable) averaging 0.56 triggers/night. Using AHDriFT enables long-duration surveys with high detectability while minimizing observer time. Guide-boards terrestrial image capture minimal cost. During 1 year usage, no mortality was documented using this camera-trap system field time reduced 95%, requiring only monthly visits approximately 3 hr 9 fence arrays download from camera systems, compared pitfall funnel traps that require least daily monitoring. © 2017 Society.