Estimates of Species Richness and Composition Depend on Detection Method in Assemblages of Terrestrial Mammals.

ABSTRACT: Detecting rapid changes in mammal composition at large spatial scales requires efficient detection methods. Many studies estimate species composition with a single survey method without asking whether that particular method optimises detection for all occurring species and yields reliable community-level indices. We explore the implications of between-method differences in efficiency, consistency, and sampling effort for the basic characterisation of assemblages of medium to large mammals in a region with three contrasted Mediterranean landscapes. We assessed differences between camera traps, scent stations, scat surveys, and track surveys. Using track surveys, we detected all species present in the regional pool (13) and obtained the most accurate description of local species richness and

SUBMITTER: Suarez-Tangil BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7830977 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature