Behavioral “bycatch” from camera trap surveys yields insights on prey responses to human-mediated predation risk ...

• Main Authors: Burton, Cole, Beirne, Christopher, Sun, Catherine, Granados, Alys, Procko, Michael, Chen, Cheng, Fennell, Mitchell, Constantinou, Alexia, Colton, Christopher, Tjaden-McClement, Katie, Fisher, Jason, Burgar, Joanna
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2022
• Subjects: FOS Biological sciences; camera trap; Wildlife; Alces alces; caribou; Rangifer tarandus; white-tailed deer; Odocoileus virginianus; Moose; Oil sands
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.98sf7m0mg; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.98sf7m0mg

Human disturbance directly affects animal populations but indirect effects of disturbance on species behaviors are less well understood. Camera traps provide an opportunity to investigate variation in animal behaviors across gradients of disturbance. We used camera trap data to test predictions about predator-sensitive behavior in three ungulate species (caribou Rangifer tarandus; white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus; moose, Alces alces) across two boreal forest landscapes varying in disturbance. We quantified behavior as the number of camera trap photos per detection event and tested its relationship to predation risk between a landscape with greater industrial disturbance and predator abundance (Algar) and a “control” landscape with lower human and predator activity (Richardson). We also assessed the influence of predation risk and habitat on behavior across camera sites within the disturbed Algar landscape. We predicted that animals in areas with greater predation risk (more wolf activity, less ... : We deployed a single camera trap (CT) (Reconyx HyperFire PC900, Holman, WI) at each sampling site across the Algar and Richardson study areas in stratified random designs. The primary objectives of the surveys were to assess the distribution and relative abundance of medium- and large-bodied mammals in relation to landscape characteristics, particularly industrial disturbances like seismic lines. In the Algar study area, 73 CTs were deployed between November 2015 and November 2017, with year-round sampling continuing until November 2019. Sixty CT sites were on seismic lines and 13 were off of seismic lines. On-line sites were further stratified by restoration category (treated, regenerating, unrestored control, human use). In the Richardson study area, CTs were deployed in November 2017 and 2018 at 57 sites stratified by in (27) vs. out (30) of burned area and on (18) vs. off (39) of a seismic line, with year-round sampling continuing until November 2019. In both study areas, cameras were left in place and ...