understanding marking-behavior patterns to optimize camera-trapping studies
Miha Krofel (Avtor), Teresa Oliveira (Avtor), Francesco Rovero (Avtor), Claudio Groff (Avtor), Claudio Augugliaro (Avtor), Valentina Oberosler (Avtor), Maximilian Allen (Avtor)

Povzetek

Many carnivores rely on marking behavior for intraspecific communication with potential mates and competitors, using scent and visual markings to advertise their use of a territory and allow potential mates to assess their quality. However, obtaining data on communication behaviors of rare and elusive animals can be challenging. To better understand marking behavior of snow leopard (Panthera uncia), we combined camera-trapping, snow-tracking and transect counts of scrapes in the Altai Mountains, Mongolia, and measured frequencies of communication behaviors in both space and time. Next, we explored if this information could be used to improve the efficiency of snow leopard population monitoring through camera-trapping. Using the combination of all three methods, we detected seven communication behaviors. Most visits at marking sites began with sniffing (recorded at 56.4% visits) before progressing to other behaviors. Urine spraying (17.7% of visits) and scraping (16.8%) were exhibited at significantly more visits than other communication behaviors (flehmen, head/body rubbing, fecal deposition, claw marking). According to the snow-tracking data conducted in optimal habitats, scraping was the most frequent marking behavior with 12.8 scrapes/km, followed by urine marking with 10.5 marks/km. Along 32 transects, we recorded a mean of 8.0 cumulative scrapes/km, with highest marking rates recorded in gorges, which we recommend as prime habitats for deploying camera-traps. Finally, our results suggest that the number of scrapes observed at potential camera-trapping sites represents a good predictor of snow leopard visitation rate. Therefore, this parameter can be used when choosing camera-trapping locations to increase the efficiency of monitoring programs.

Ključne besede

intraspecific communication;monitoring;felids;carnivores;Mongolia;

Podatki

Jezik: Angleški jezik
Leto izida:
Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
Organizacija: UL BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
UDK: 599.742.711:591.58(517.9)(045)
COBISS: 226422019 Povezava se bo odprla v novem oknu
ISSN: 1432-0762
Št. ogledov: 88
Št. prenosov: 50
Ocena: 0 (0 glasov)
Metapodatki: JSON JSON-RDF JSON-LD TURTLE N-TRIPLES XML RDFA MICRODATA DC-XML DC-RDF RDF

Ostali podatki

Sekundarni jezik: Slovenski jezik
Sekundarne ključne besede: komunikacija;monitoring;mačke;zveri;Mongolija;
Vrsta dela (COBISS): Članek v reviji
Strani: str. 1-13
Letnik: ǂVol. ǂ79
Zvezek: ǂissue ǂ3, article number 32
Čas izdaje: Mar. 2025
DOI: 10.1007/s00265-025-03574-8
ID: 25925385
Priporočena dela:
, understanding marking-behavior patterns to optimize camera-trapping studies
, InterMuc project report
, seasonal estimates of leopard density and drivers of distribution in the Serengeti
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