Title
Luck in the leftover: Using by-catch camera trap records to infer the ecology of small carnivores in Sumatra
Author(s)
Sibarani, Marsya ;Pusparini, Wulan ;Albert, Wido ;Radinal, Radinal ;Kiswayadi, Dedi ;Widodo, Febri Anggriawan ;Sunarto, Sunarto
Published
2017
Abstract
Camera trap surveys in Sumatra are mostly aimed at the flagship species. However, many other animals, including the less studied species, are also recorded, including the small carnivores. The aim of this study is to assess the habitat use and temporal activity patterns of small carnivores in Sumatra. We collated small carnivore records from various camera trap surveys in eight protected areas in Sumatra, from south to north respectively, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (1999-2015), Kerinci-Seblat NP (2012-2015), Bukit Betabuh Protection Forest (2013), Bukit Rimbang Bukit Baling Sanctuary (2011), Bukit Bungkuk Nature Reserve (2012), Tesso Nilo NP (2013), Leuser Landscape (2010-2013), and Ulu Masen Landscape (2012-2013). Most of the survey locations are primary dryland forest. Overall, we found 18 species representing 5 families of small carnivores. Among them, one species, Martes flavigula, was recorded in all sites,
meanwhile Mustela lutreolina and Mydaus javanensis were only recorded in one site, Leuser Landscape and Bukit
Barisan Selatan NP, respectively. Most species were widely distributed across altitudes (21-2268 masl), but Arctonyx
hoevenii was restricted at high elevations. All species with more than 30 independent records showed consistent temporal activity patterns across sites. This study suggested that by-catch data may be employed to assess ecological features of non-target species. Conservation effort in Sumatra is still mostly focused on flagship species, and conducting a specific study for wider biodiversity is very expensive and time consuming. The information inferred from by-catch data may therefore be used to aid the conservation management strategy of the non-flagship species. This study also showed the importance of collaboration between different institutions in a developing country on data-sharing and conducting species
assessments across a wider landscape.
Keywords
Camera trap;small carnivore
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