A systematic scanning method to locate cryptic terrestrial species

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Ecology
• Animal Behaviour
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Studying small, cryptic terrestrial species presents challenges in locating habitats and minimizing disturbance.
• Traditional methods like radio-collaring can impact animal behavior and energy expenditure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a novel, non-invasive method for locating hibernation nests of hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius).
• To assess the potential disturbance caused by the new method.

Main Methods:

• Utilized passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to mark hazel dormice.
• Employed a powerful PIT tag scanner combined with a systematic search strategy to locate tagged individuals in their hibernation nests.
• Used camera traps to monitor for external activity post-detection.

Main Results:

• Successfully located nine wild hibernating hazel dormice using the PIT tag scanning method.
• Camera trap data showed no dormouse activity after detection, indicating minimal disturbance.
• Detected eleven PIT tags not associated with a live dormouse, suggesting potential for tracking tag loss and habitat use.

Conclusions:

• The developed PIT tag scanning method offers a non-invasive alternative to radio-collaring for small mammal research.
• This technique is effective for locating cryptic hibernation sites and understanding fine-scale habitat selection.
• PIT tags have utility beyond individual identification, aiding in ecological studies.