A Trial Use of Camera Traps Detects the Highly Cryptic and Endangered Grassland Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis pinguicolla(Reptilia: Agamidae)on the Monaro Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia

摘要

The use of remote, infrared, sensor-activated cameras(hereafter called camera traps)is becoming more widespread in wildlife research as they offer several advantages over traditional manual survey methods. Camera traps are less invasive, offer opportunities to increase detection of cryptic trap-shy fauna, and can collect data over long periods of time with minimal input(Cutler and Swan 1999; Swan et al. 2004). In Australia, much of the focus when using camera traps for threatened wildlife has been on small to large-sized native mammals(Claridge et al. 2004, 2010; Nelson 2009). Camera traps have also been used in Australia to monitor birds(Towerton et al. 2008)and introduced pests(Vine et a1. 2008).