The use of photographic rates to estimate densities of tigers and other cryptic mammals

摘要: The monitoring and management of species depends on reliable population estimates, this can be both difficult very costly for cryptic large vertebrates that live in forested habitats. Recently developed camera trapping techniques have already been shown to an effective means making mark-recapture estimates individually identifiable animals (e.g. tigers). Camera traps also provide a new method surveying animal abundance. Through computer simulations, analysis the rates trap capture from 19 studies tigers across species' range, we show number days/tiger photograph correlates with independent tiger density. This statistic does not rely individual identity is particularly useful estimating density are identifiable. Finally, used comparison between observed simulations estimate minimum effort required determine tigers, or other species, do exist area, measure critical conservation planning.