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Reptile camera monitoring

Following our first blog’, here we show a brief update of the results of the SUFICA Reptile’s Camera Experiment.

 

Reptile camera monitoring set up in the Caatinga. Credit: Rhinella jimi. Credit: Andrés Muñoz-Sáez

Preliminary analysis of our wet season showed that our reptile camera trap experiment detected mainly reptiles (52%), followed by mammals (28%) and birds (19%).

Reptile and mammal relative abundance showed more individuals in the native vegetation (Caatinga) in comparison with the agroecosystem (grape and mango farms). Opposite pattern was found for birds.

 

Proportion of camera images by taxa (left) and relative abundance of different taxa captured by reptile cameras in the Caatinga (green) and within agroecosystems (grape and mango farms).

These preliminary results highlight the relevance of the native vegetation for the conservation of the community for reptiles and mammals.

Reptiles were also monitored in the dry season and we have started to analyse these data, which are already showing some exciting results.  Stay tuned for our next results briefs!

 

Iguana iguana (left) and Rhinella jimi (right). Credit: Andrés Muñoz-Sáez.

We want to thank Jesús Diaz for his help in the camera data processing.

Natalia Zielonka

17.08.20