POPULATION INDICES (CAMERA TRAPS ) by Shivanshu Tyagi

Study material for UG & PG students #wildlife

1. DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY , SRT CAMPUS, BADSHAHITHAUL , (TEHRI-GARHWAL) FIRST SESSIONAL EXAM Name :- SHIVANSHU TYAGI Course :- M.Sc. Zoology Semester :- 3 rd Subject :- ECOLOGY & WILDLIFE Paper Code :- SOLS/ZOOI/C014 Roll. No. :- 26 SUBMITTED TO :- Dr Dinesh Kumar Sharma Professor , DOZ SRT CAMPUS ,HNBGU

2. Topic :- Population Indices using Campera traps & natural markers

3. 👉CONTENT :- Introduction to Population Indices Types of methods used Camera traps Natural Marks Reference

4. ✅Introduction To Population Indices:- Indices of population size represents a constant but unknown relationship between index & actual population size . Usually Compare:- Population from the same location at different time . Population from different locations at the same time .

5. Types Of Methods Used :- 1) . Direct Method :- based on the actual counts of animals seen , caught , heard or harvested. Ex :- Fish electroshocked per Km of shoreline ,tadpoles caught per net sweep etc . 2). Indirect Method :- based on signs of animal presence or activity. Ex :- track counts , fecal or pellet counts , camera traps , counts of conspicuous features ( eg ; Nests , lodges )

6. 📹Population Indices Using Camera Traps:- Camera trap is a camera that is automatically triggered by a change in some activity in its vicinity, like presence of an animal. It is typically equipped with a motion sensor – usually a passive infrared (PIR) sensor or an active infrared (AIR) sensor using an infrared light beam. The modern camera trap is simply a digital camera connected to an infrared sensor which can “see” warm objects that are moving, like animals. When an animal moves past the sensor it causes the camera to fire, recording an image or video to the memory card for later retrieval. Camera traps can be left in the field to continuously watch an area of habitat for weeks or even months, recording the rarest events which occur in natur e.

7. Purpose & Importance of Camera Traps :- Purpose :- 1. By using camera traps, the well-being and survival rate of animals can be observed over time. 2. Camera traps are helpful in determining behavioural and activity patterns of animals. 3. Camera traps are also useful to record animal migrations.

8. Important :- 1. Camera traps provide data on species location, population sizes and how species are interacting.
2. They also help us to understand how humans and livestock interact with each other and other forms of wildlife.
3. The development of networked camera traps, capable of sending images over phone or satellite networks in near real-time, has provided a new tool in the fight against poaching Conti ....

9. 🤔 How To Set Camera Traps ? Set the camera on either a tree, washing line pole or a wooden stake and aim it at a clear area, free of waving vegetation, which will trigger it constantly. And recorded a variety of birds and mammals.

10. 🤷‍♂️ How to get best results using camera traps :- If you can engage your inner tracker, slow down and look, you’re more likely to see the signs of wildlife that’ll help you to position your camera better. Look carefully for trails, droppings, scratching spots, footprints and wildlife highways and you’ll get an idea of the nocturnal journeys they’re taking.

11. Natural Marks :- The ideal method of recognising individual is to use their own “naturally” occuring unique traits , much as we identify other people by their physionomic traits . Many animals exhibits unique coat pattern , scaring , din or fleeke notches , antler configuration or other traits . Scanning & identification of are plays important role in natural marking of wildlife . Natural marking best work when number of animals are limited , they occupy a well defined area & where minimal immigration occurs .

12. Conti....... Pug marks can be used when the soil is moist in that area / region . Scats identification:- on basis of Size , Shape , colour , consistency & odour . Traits :- such as hair identify ( in Wild Boar) etc.

13. Tiger scat

14. Hair Identification of Wild Boar ( Bristles Hairs )

15. 💡 Reference :- Wildlife marking techniques, Nova J . Silvy , Roel R. Lopez & Markus J. Peterson Web.mustate.edu . Wildlife Marking techniques (Chapter 13) Population indices , researchgate.net