Optical design challenges of subnivean camera trapping under extreme Arctic conditions

Abstract

Camera trapping is widely used in different ecological studies and is particularly important for remote locations and extreme environments. However, the application of camera traps in Arctic regions remains very limited. One of the challenges is the formation of hoar on the lens of cameras. In this article, we propose a solution to address this problem by changing the camera parameters and its position in order to optimize the camera trap for long-term subnivean deployment in the Canadian Arctic. Preliminary field tests show that this approach allows tracking lemmings in the frozen environment without natural light or external electrical power supply, where the direct observations are impossible for the most part of the year. We obtained the first videos of lemmings under the snow during the Arctic winter. Extending the observational network of the newly designed camera traps will help to better understand lemming population dynamics. The demonstrated approach is also promising for other polar applications.