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Developing methods for measuring national distributions and densities of wild mammals using camera traps: A Kosovo study

View ORCID ProfileSarah E. Beatham, View ORCID ProfileAlastair I. Ward, View ORCID ProfileDavid Fouracre, Jeton Muhaxhiri, Michael Sallmann, Besim Zogu, Valdet Gjinovci, Anthony J. Wilsmore, View ORCID ProfileGraham C. Smith
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.30.193078
Sarah E. Beatham
1National Wildlife Management Centre, APHA, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom
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  • For correspondence: sarah.beatham@apha.gov.uk
Alastair I. Ward
1National Wildlife Management Centre, APHA, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom
2School of Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
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David Fouracre
1National Wildlife Management Centre, APHA, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom
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Jeton Muhaxhiri
3Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Research Unit (VEERU) & PAN Livestock Services Ltd., University of Reading, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading, RG6 6AR, United Kingdom
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Michael Sallmann
4Department of Veterinary Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Odenwald County, Scheffelstrasse 11, D-64385 Reichelsheim, Hesse, Germany
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Besim Zogu
5Kosovo Forest Agency, Ernest Koliqi Street, 10000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo
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Valdet Gjinovci
6Food and Veterinary Agency, Industrial Zone, 10000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo
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Anthony J. Wilsmore
3Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Research Unit (VEERU) & PAN Livestock Services Ltd., University of Reading, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading, RG6 6AR, United Kingdom
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Graham C. Smith
1National Wildlife Management Centre, APHA, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom
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Abstract

Understanding the distributions and density of wild mammals is integral to the implementation of wildlife management strategies, particularly for controlling diseases and conservation management. Recent advances in camera trap technology together with the development of the Random Encounter Model have provided a non-invasive method for estimating mammal densities. In addition, the development of citizen science initiatives have advanced ecological data collection. This study describes a national camera trap survey delivered by local stakeholders in eleven forest sites in Kosovo from 2014 to 2015 to measure the distributions and abundance of medium to large wild mammals as part of the Control and/or eradication of animal diseases project. The Random Encounter Model was used to calculate density data for each species, which appear realistic when compared to densities found in other European countries. The study particularly focussed on the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus) as potential vectors of rabies and wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a vector of classical swine fever. These species were found to be three of the most widely distributed species in Kosovo and were present at the majority of sites at high densities. The camera survey also provided information on species of conservation concern such as the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) and provided the first physical evidence of a live Eurasian golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Kosovo. Although sources of bias were identified, these estimates are likely to be more accurate than those devised from methods such as hunting bags and the findings of this study suggest that, with a moderate amount of development, camera trapping implemented by local stakeholders can be used as an effective and practicable method to estimate national distributions and population sizes of medium to large sized wild mammals.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-ND 4.0 International license.
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Posted July 31, 2020.
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Developing methods for measuring national distributions and densities of wild mammals using camera traps: A Kosovo study
Sarah E. Beatham, Alastair I. Ward, David Fouracre, Jeton Muhaxhiri, Michael Sallmann, Besim Zogu, Valdet Gjinovci, Anthony J. Wilsmore, Graham C. Smith
bioRxiv 2020.07.30.193078; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.30.193078
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Developing methods for measuring national distributions and densities of wild mammals using camera traps: A Kosovo study
Sarah E. Beatham, Alastair I. Ward, David Fouracre, Jeton Muhaxhiri, Michael Sallmann, Besim Zogu, Valdet Gjinovci, Anthony J. Wilsmore, Graham C. Smith
bioRxiv 2020.07.30.193078; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.30.193078

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