Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations

ABSTRACT Noninvasive sampling methods provide a means to monitor endangered, threatened, or sensitive species or populations while increasing the efficacy of personnel effort and time. We developed a monitoring protocol that utilizes single‐capture hair snares and analysis of morphological features...

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Main Authors: Stephanie E. Trapp, Elizabeth A. Flaherty
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-12-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.824
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author Stephanie E. Trapp
Elizabeth A. Flaherty
author_facet Stephanie E. Trapp
Elizabeth A. Flaherty
author_sort Stephanie E. Trapp
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Noninvasive sampling methods provide a means to monitor endangered, threatened, or sensitive species or populations while increasing the efficacy of personnel effort and time. We developed a monitoring protocol that utilizes single‐capture hair snares and analysis of morphological features of hair for evaluating populations. During 2015, we used the West Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia, USA, to test the feasibility of using this protocol to sample a sensitive mammal species found at low densities in challenging terrain and inclement weather conditions. Our hair snare was successful in collecting hair from 316 squirrels of 3 species with 99.4% single captures and only 1 permanent capture. Using morphological analysis, we differentiated among northern flying squirrels, southern flying squirrels (G. volans), and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) using 8 morphological measurements and an orthogonal discriminant function analysis to successfully refine and confirm identification of the hair. We advocate the use of this relatively noninvasive and inexpensive protocol for studying other sensitive wildlife species. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-afa488b8d78743ccb268863e1baabdc62024-12-16T13:00:44ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402017-12-0141477077510.1002/wsb.824Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populationsStephanie E. Trapp0Elizabeth A. Flaherty1Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesPurdue University195 Marstellar StreetWest LafayetteIN47907USADepartment of Forestry and Natural ResourcesPurdue University195 Marstellar StreetWest LafayetteIN47907USAABSTRACT Noninvasive sampling methods provide a means to monitor endangered, threatened, or sensitive species or populations while increasing the efficacy of personnel effort and time. We developed a monitoring protocol that utilizes single‐capture hair snares and analysis of morphological features of hair for evaluating populations. During 2015, we used the West Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia, USA, to test the feasibility of using this protocol to sample a sensitive mammal species found at low densities in challenging terrain and inclement weather conditions. Our hair snare was successful in collecting hair from 316 squirrels of 3 species with 99.4% single captures and only 1 permanent capture. Using morphological analysis, we differentiated among northern flying squirrels, southern flying squirrels (G. volans), and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) using 8 morphological measurements and an orthogonal discriminant function analysis to successfully refine and confirm identification of the hair. We advocate the use of this relatively noninvasive and inexpensive protocol for studying other sensitive wildlife species. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.824Glaucomys sabrinus fuscushair snareMonongahela National Forestmorphometricspopulation monitoringsingle‐capture
spellingShingle Stephanie E. Trapp
Elizabeth A. Flaherty
Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations
Wildlife Society Bulletin
Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus
hair snare
Monongahela National Forest
morphometrics
population monitoring
single‐capture
title Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations
title_full Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations
title_fullStr Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations
title_full_unstemmed Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations
title_short Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations
title_sort noninvasive and cost effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations
topic Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus
hair snare
Monongahela National Forest
morphometrics
population monitoring
single‐capture
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.824
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