Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation Science
Large felids represent some of the most threatened large mammals on Earth, critical for both tourism economies and ecosystem function. Most populations are in a state of decline, and their monitoring and enumeration is therefore critical for conservation. This typically rests on the accurate identif...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.866403/full |
| _version_ | 1818278359822499840 |
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| author | Keren S. Pereira Keren S. Pereira Luke Gibson Duan Biggs Duan Biggs Duan Biggs Dinal Samarasinghe Alexander R. Braczkowski Alexander R. Braczkowski |
| author_facet | Keren S. Pereira Keren S. Pereira Luke Gibson Duan Biggs Duan Biggs Duan Biggs Dinal Samarasinghe Alexander R. Braczkowski Alexander R. Braczkowski |
| author_sort | Keren S. Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Large felids represent some of the most threatened large mammals on Earth, critical for both tourism economies and ecosystem function. Most populations are in a state of decline, and their monitoring and enumeration is therefore critical for conservation. This typically rests on the accurate identification of individuals within their populations. We review the most common and current survey methods used in individual identification studies of large felid ecology (body mass > 25 kg). Remote camera trap photography is the most extensively used method to identify leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, tigers, and cheetahs which feature conspicuous and easily identifiable coat patterning. Direct photographic surveys and genetic sampling are commonly used for species that do not feature easily identifiable coat patterning such as lions. We also discuss the accompanying challenges encountered in several field studies, best practices that can help increase the precision and accuracy of identification and provide generalised ratings for the common survey methods used for individual identification. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:16:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac5cb4780e7844419956ba33c1d7b605 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:16:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac5cb4780e7844419956ba33c1d7b6052022-12-22T00:08:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-04-011010.3389/fevo.2022.866403866403Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation ScienceKeren S. Pereira0Keren S. Pereira1Luke Gibson2Duan Biggs3Duan Biggs4Duan Biggs5Dinal Samarasinghe6Alexander R. Braczkowski7Alexander R. Braczkowski8Resilient Conservation, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaResilient Conservation, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United StatesCentre for Complex Systems in Transition, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South AfricaEnvironmental Foundation Limited, Colombo, Sri LankaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George, South AfricaLarge felids represent some of the most threatened large mammals on Earth, critical for both tourism economies and ecosystem function. Most populations are in a state of decline, and their monitoring and enumeration is therefore critical for conservation. This typically rests on the accurate identification of individuals within their populations. We review the most common and current survey methods used in individual identification studies of large felid ecology (body mass > 25 kg). Remote camera trap photography is the most extensively used method to identify leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, tigers, and cheetahs which feature conspicuous and easily identifiable coat patterning. Direct photographic surveys and genetic sampling are commonly used for species that do not feature easily identifiable coat patterning such as lions. We also discuss the accompanying challenges encountered in several field studies, best practices that can help increase the precision and accuracy of identification and provide generalised ratings for the common survey methods used for individual identification.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.866403/fullcamera trapsdirect photographic surveysgenetic samplingindividual identificationlarge felids |
| spellingShingle | Keren S. Pereira Keren S. Pereira Luke Gibson Duan Biggs Duan Biggs Duan Biggs Dinal Samarasinghe Alexander R. Braczkowski Alexander R. Braczkowski Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation Science Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution camera traps direct photographic surveys genetic sampling individual identification large felids |
| title | Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation Science |
| title_full | Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation Science |
| title_fullStr | Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation Science |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation Science |
| title_short | Individual Identification of Large Felids in Field Studies: Common Methods, Challenges, and Implications for Conservation Science |
| title_sort | individual identification of large felids in field studies common methods challenges and implications for conservation science |
| topic | camera traps direct photographic surveys genetic sampling individual identification large felids |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.866403/full |
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