caa a22 4500 60552713X CHVBK 20210128100806.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150301xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10531-014-0834-z doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10531-014-0834-z The road less travelled: assessing variation in mammal detection probabilities with camera traps in a semi-arid biodiversity hotspot [Elektronische Daten] [Gareth Mann, M. O'Riain, Daniel Parker] Camera traps are an increasingly popular tool for monitoring medium to large mammals, but the influence of camera trap placement on the detection probabilities of different species has seldom been investigated. In this study we explore the influence of roads on the detection probability of medium to large mammals in three vegetation types in the Little Karoo, an arid biodiversity hotspot. We placed cameras in nine 100m-long transects, running perpendicular from roads within a conservation area. The camera traps were spaced at ~25m intervals, and were active for an average of 88days each. Detection probabilities relative to distance from roads showed extensive variation between species and habitat types. There was no clear relationship between distance from the road and the detection probability of most species and guilds, although carnivore detection probability declined significantly as distance from roads increased in all vegetation types. Our results suggest that there is considerable inter-specific variation in detection probability that is significantly influenced by camera trap location relative to roads. Therefore studies that seek to maximise the detection rates of particular species or guilds (e.g. carnivores) by placing cameras on prominent roads and trails are unlikely to provide reliable estimates of the relative abundance of the broader range of sympatric species; a trend observed elsewhere but hitherto untested in arid environments. We recommend that future studies employ a mixed design of cameras located on- and off-roads to provide better estimates of biodiversity in general and predators specifically. Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht, 2014 Animal movement nationallicence Road usage nationallicence Camera trap nationallicence Monitoring nationallicence Biodiversity nationallicence Little Karoo nationallicence Mann Gareth Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, 6140, Grahamstown, South Africa aut O'Riain M. The Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Private Bag X3, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa aut Parker Daniel Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, 6140, Grahamstown, South Africa aut Biodiversity and Conservation Springer Netherlands 24/3(2015-03-01), 531-545 0960-3115 24:3<531 2015 24 10531 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0834-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0834-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Mann Gareth Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, 6140, Grahamstown, South Africa aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- O'Riain M. The Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Private Bag X3, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Parker Daniel Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, 6140, Grahamstown, South Africa aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Biodiversity and Conservation Springer Netherlands 24/3(2015-03-01), 531-545 0960-3115 24:3<531 2015 24 10531