Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Camera Trapping, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 2016
Abstract: These data are records of all camera trapping observations during the 2016 Litchfield survey.
A total of 220 permanent monitoring plots were established between 1994-2002 across three parks (Kakadu, Litchfield and Nitmiluk) in the Top End of the Northern Territory, representing the Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network. A detailed flora and fauna survey has been conducted at each plot on a 5-6 year cycle to monitor biotic changes. Plots represent a variety of landforms and vegetation types.
Litchfield National Park contains 40 plots. In 2016, 20 plots were surveyed for terrestrial vertebrate fauna using a range of survey methods.
A 5 camera array was installed during the 4 day fauna survey, operational for a 5 week period. Current methodology has been adopted to balance maximising detection of feral cats and native mammals, including dogs, in an integrated fashion.
A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Three Park Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c35959d4530d
Study extent: Macropus agilis is now classified as Notomacropus agilis, Macropus antilopinus is now Osphranter antilopinus, and Macropus robustus is now Osphranter robustus but for consistency these names are being kept in the genus Macropus.
Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of, and funded through the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) a facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.
Type
collection
Title
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Camera Trapping, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 2016
Alternate Title
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects - Fauna Plot Network: Camera Trapping Kakadu, Litchfield, Nitmiluk, 2016
Collection Type
Dataset
Access Privileges
Long Term Ecological Research Network
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
10.25911/5c3e9c5eaacd2
Website Address
https://datacommons.anu.edu.au/
Metadata Language
English
Data Language
English
Brief Description
These data are records of all camera trapping observations during the 2016 Litchfield survey.
Litchfield National Park contains 40 plots. In 2016, 20 plots were surveyed for terrestrial vertebrate fauna using a range of survey methods.
A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Three Park Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c35959d4530d
Full Description
Abstract: These data are records of all camera trapping observations during the 2016 Litchfield survey.
A total of 220 permanent monitoring plots were established between 1994-2002 across three parks (Kakadu, Litchfield and Nitmiluk) in the Top End of the Northern Territory, representing the Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network. A detailed flora and fauna survey has been conducted at each plot on a 5-6 year cycle to monitor biotic changes. Plots represent a variety of landforms and vegetation types.
Litchfield National Park contains 40 plots. In 2016, 20 plots were surveyed for terrestrial vertebrate fauna using a range of survey methods.
A 5 camera array was installed during the 4 day fauna survey, operational for a 5 week period. Current methodology has been adopted to balance maximising detection of feral cats and native mammals, including dogs, in an integrated fashion.
A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Three Park Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c35959d4530d
Study extent: Macropus agilis is now classified as Notomacropus agilis, Macropus antilopinus is now Osphranter antilopinus, and Macropus robustus is now Osphranter robustus but for consistency these names are being kept in the genus Macropus.
Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of, and funded through the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) a facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.
Methods
Plot set-up
1
Nitmiluk National Park contains 40 plots, each with a paired plot located within 1 km of the primary plot.
Camera traps were installed at all 40 primary plots and at 10 secondary plots. A 5 camera array was installed during the 4 day fauna survey, operational for a 5 week period. Current methodology has been adopted to balance maximising detection of feral cats and native mammals, including dogs, in an integrated fashion. When undertaking a standard 50 x 50 m mammal trapping quadrat, five camera traps are placed in and around the quadrat.
One camera is placed in the middle of the quadrat and four cameras are placed in a rough diamond configuration surrounding the trapping quadrat. Cameras are placed at least 30 m apart from each other; this includes the centre camera. Cameras are placed no more than 100 m from the centre camera, resulting in the maximum distance between any cameras being no more than a 200 m. Where possible cameras should be placed in a variety of different micro-habitats within the survey area, as different species will use different parts of the landscape.
Camera traps were installed at all 40 primary plots and at 10 secondary plots. A 5 camera array was installed during the 4 day fauna survey, operational for a 5 week period. Current methodology has been adopted to balance maximising detection of feral cats and native mammals, including dogs, in an integrated fashion. When undertaking a standard 50 x 50 m mammal trapping quadrat, five camera traps are placed in and around the quadrat.
One camera is placed in the middle of the quadrat and four cameras are placed in a rough diamond configuration surrounding the trapping quadrat. Cameras are placed at least 30 m apart from each other; this includes the centre camera. Cameras are placed no more than 100 m from the centre camera, resulting in the maximum distance between any cameras being no more than a 200 m. Where possible cameras should be placed in a variety of different micro-habitats within the survey area, as different species will use different parts of the landscape.
Site preparation
2
Determine what vegetation may cause false photos. Careful attention needs to be given to ‘gardening’ the area around the camera to ensure that any low hanging vegetation, grass, leaves, etc. are removed from the view of the camera to avoid false photos. Where necessary use secateurs to trim back overhanging leaves or vines and a fire rake to clear grass clumps.
If in doubt set the camera and trigger it to take a couple of photos, then remove the SD card and put it into a digital camera to check field of view.
If in doubt set the camera and trigger it to take a couple of photos, then remove the SD card and put it into a digital camera to check field of view.
Camera trap installation
3
Each camera trap requires an elastic strap and a bait station containing peanut butter, oats and honey attached to a metal picket.
• The camera needs to be attached to a secure support – usually a tree, but a steel picket can be used where no tree is available. Avoid trees or bushes less than 20 cm in diameter as they move in the wind causing false photos.
• The camera will be placed at ~70 cm above the ground.
• Angle the camera slightly downward so it captures the bait station in the middle of the shot, to ensure a consistent field of ‘detection’ as a function of the camera to bait station distance.
• The bait station will be set at either 1.5-or 2.5 m from the camera. Any two cameras will have bait station set at 1.5 m, and the other three cameras will be have bait stations set at 2.5 m. For consistency, these distances will be determined by tape measure. The distance that each camera is set from bait stations will be recorded on a datasheet. Bait stations will be placed approximately 300 mm above the ground on a secure stake that cannot be easily knocked over by animals.
• Arm cameras and trigger camera to take some photos, then check images in a handheld camera to check on alignment.
• Take a waypoint of the camera location using a handheld GPS and enter into datasheet.
More detailed information on the camera trapping method used can be found in the ‘A guide for the use of remote cameras for wildlife survey in northern Australia’ (2015) following this link:
http://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/5.2.4_a_guide_to_use_of_remote_cameras_for_wildlife_surveys_final_web.pdf
• The camera needs to be attached to a secure support – usually a tree, but a steel picket can be used where no tree is available. Avoid trees or bushes less than 20 cm in diameter as they move in the wind causing false photos.
• The camera will be placed at ~70 cm above the ground.
• Angle the camera slightly downward so it captures the bait station in the middle of the shot, to ensure a consistent field of ‘detection’ as a function of the camera to bait station distance.
• The bait station will be set at either 1.5-or 2.5 m from the camera. Any two cameras will have bait station set at 1.5 m, and the other three cameras will be have bait stations set at 2.5 m. For consistency, these distances will be determined by tape measure. The distance that each camera is set from bait stations will be recorded on a datasheet. Bait stations will be placed approximately 300 mm above the ground on a secure stake that cannot be easily knocked over by animals.
• Arm cameras and trigger camera to take some photos, then check images in a handheld camera to check on alignment.
• Take a waypoint of the camera location using a handheld GPS and enter into datasheet.
More detailed information on the camera trapping method used can be found in the ‘A guide for the use of remote cameras for wildlife survey in northern Australia’ (2015) following this link:
http://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/5.2.4_a_guide_to_use_of_remote_cameras_for_wildlife_surveys_final_web.pdf
File Descriptions
tpsl_camera_trapping_p767t982.csv
| abundance |
| ||||||
| common_name |
| ||||||
| date |
| ||||||
| number of records | 666 | ||||||
| scientific_name |
| ||||||
| site |
| ||||||
| survey |
|
Contact Email
alaric.fisher@nt.gov.au
Contact Address
PO Box 496
Palmerston, Northern Territory, 0831
Australia
Contact Phone Number
+61 8 8995 5002;
+61 478404546
Principal Investigator
Alaric Fisher
Supervisors
Alaric Fisher
Collaborators
John Woinarski;
Northern Territory Government Department of Land Resource Management;
Graeme Gillespie;
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission;
Luke Einoder
Fields of Research
0502 - Environmental Science and Management;
0602 - Ecology;
0608 - Zoology
Keywords
GCMD:Earth Science > Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Savannas;
GCMD:Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Mammals;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Herpetofauna;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Invasive animals;
keyword:Camera trapping;
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects - Fauna;
Kakadu, Litchfield, Nitmiluk;
Camera Trapping
Type of Research Activity
Strategic basic research
Date Coverage
2016
Geospatial Location
Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
text
northlimit = -13.038; southlimit = -13.52589; westlimit = 130.68445; eastLimit = 130.9701
iso19139dcmiBox
Date of data creation
2017-07-31
Year of data publication
2017
Creator(s) for Citation
Fisher
Alaric
Publisher for Citation
The Australian National University Data Commons
Publications
978-1-925167-12-2
Gillespie, G. R., Brennan, K., Gentles, T., Hill, B., Low Choy, J., Mahney, T., Stevens, A., and Stokeld, D. (2015). A guide for the use of remote cameras for wildlife survey in northern Australia. Darwin: Charles Darwin University, http://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/5.2.4_a_guide_to_use_of_remote_cameras_for_wildlife_surveys_final_web.pdf
A guide for the use of remote cameras for wildlife survey in northern Australia
isbn
Other Related Identifiers
MorphoId:ltern.338;
PackageId:767
Access Rights
Special Conditions: Users are required to contact the data provider (Graeme Gillespie) to discuss use of these data, including collaboration or co-authorship where appropriate.
Users are also required to seek permission from Northern Territory Government Department of Land Resource to discuss use of all of these data packages, and Parks Australia prior to use of data packages from Kakadu National Park.
Access Rights Type
Open
Rights held in and over the data
Creative Commons Licence (CC BY- Attribution) is assigned to this data. Details of the licence can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Licence Type
CC-BY - Attribution (Version 4)
Licence
LTERN Deed: 47
Date of execution: 2017-05-12
Restrictions: Data collected prior to 2012 is to be published as mediated, except where explicitly stated otherwise by the Data Provider.
Data Location
https://datacommons.anu.edu.au
Retention Period
Indefinitely
Data Management Plan
No
Status: Published
Published to:
Published to:
- Australian National University
- Australian National Data Service
Related items
- hasAssociationWith:
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna) data packages, 1994-2018 [anudc:5552] - hasAssociationWith:
Luke Einoder [anudc:5603] - hasAssociationWith:
Dr Alaric Fisher [anudc:5561] - hasAssociationWith:
Graeme Gillespie [anudc:5588] - hasAssociationWith:
John Woinarski [anudc:5598] - hasAssociationWith:
Northern Territory. Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission [anudc:5637] - hasAssociationWith:
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission [anudc:5638]