Advancing Primate Research and Conservation Through the Use of Camera Traps: Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

Effective conservation and management of primates depend on our ability to accurately assess and monitor populations through research. Camera traps are proving to be useful tools for studying a variety of primate species, in diverse and often difficult habitats. Here, we discuss the use of camera traps in primatology to survey rare species, assess populations, and record behavior. We also discuss methodological considerations for primate studies, including camera trap research design, inherent biases, and some limitations of camera traps. We encourage other primatologists to use transparent and standardized methods, and when appropriate to consider using occupancy framework to account for imperfect detection, and complementary techniques, e.g., transect counts, interviews, behavioral observation, to ensure accuracy of data interpretation. In addition, we address the conservation implications of camera trapping, such as using data to inform industry, garner public support, and contributing photos to large-scale habitat monitoring projects. Camera trap studies such as these are sure to advance research and conservation of primate species. Finally, we provide commentary on the ethical considerations, e.g., photographs of humans and illegal activity, of using camera traps in primate research. We believe ethical considerations will be particularly important in future primate studies, although this topic has not previously been addressed for camera trap use in primatology or any wildlife species.

Towards Automated Visual Monitoring of Individual Gorillas in the Wild

“…A more widely accessible and long-term economical alternative is the rigorous application of visual data acquisition, particularly remote camera trapping in combination with distance sampling [25] or capture-recapture models [35,58,67]. Remote camera trapping can effectively record all apes in a given region [35].…”

“…Remote camera trapping can effectively record all apes in a given region [35]. It effectively bypasses common sources of error in traditional survey methods [35,58,23] and is not restricted to a singular species nor research question.…”

The what and where of primate field research may be failing primate conservation

“…During the last two decades, primatological research has moved toward increased research specialization, the integration of biological and behavioral measures, technological innovation for examining primates remotely, and the examination of human/nonhuman primate interactions . The support of local people living adjacent to primate habitats has been key to conservation success and many researchers engage in conservation initiatives while conducting research .…”

Estimating mammalian species richness and occupancy in tropical forest canopies with arboreal camera traps

“…). Although the potential advantages of using camera trapping to monitor primate populations have been extolled (Pebsworth and Lafleur ; Gerber et al. ), only a few studies have attempted to assess arboreal wildlife populations.…”