Camera-trapping successfully and non-invasively reveals the presence, activity and habitat choice of the Critically Endangered White-winged Flufftail Sarothrura ayresi in a South African high-altitude wetland
| Autor: | Robin B Colyn, Alastair M Campbell, Hanneline Smit-Robinson |
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| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Flufftail Ecology biology 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology Rare species biology.organism_classification Generalist and specialist species 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Critically endangered Geography Habitat Threatened species Animal Science and Zoology Palustrine wetland Porzana Nature and Landscape Conservation |
| Zdroj: | Bird Conservation International. 29:463-478 |
| ISSN: | 1474-0001 0959-2709 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/s0959270918000400 |
| Popis: | SummaryThe ‘Critically Endangered’ White-winged FlufftailSarothrura ayresiis regarded as one of the rarest and most threatened rallids in Africa. Due to the species’ low density, habitat preference, cryptic colouration, elusive behaviour and lack of auditory cues has resulted in it being one of the most challenging species to survey using traditional methods such as auditory surveys and rope dragging. Numerous data deficiencies exist regarding facets of the species’ ecology, distribution, habitat-use and population status. A stratified array of nine camera localities was used within high-altitude palustrine wetland habitat to ascertain if this non-invasive technique could successfully document the first estimate of site occupancy, fine scale habitat use and activity patterns of this very rare species. Our study accumulated a total of 626 camera days and eight independent sightings of White-winged Flufftail across the respective austral summer season. Furthermore, our study confirms the applicability of camera trapping to other rare and elusive rallid species. Our results confirm that White-winged Flufftail is a low-density habitat specialist species, with site occupancy influenced positively by basal and canopy vegetation cover and detection probability influenced negatively by water depth within associated wetland habitats. Activity pattern analyses displayed that peak activity occurred at dawn and dusk, which yielded the highest degree of activity overlap with the only other migratory rallid recorded, Spotted CrakePorzana prozana. Our study also recorded the first apparent territorial display behaviour noted for the species. Our study supports the need for conservation initiatives focused on securing contiguous sections of suitable wetland habitat in order to accommodate the persistence of this globally threatened species. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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