Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populations
The behaviours, ecologies and morphologies of pangolins make them challenging to survey and monitor, and non-targeted wildlife surveys have not produced robust status assessments, especially where population densities are low because of overexploitation. To inform the development of feasible survey...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418304190 |
| _version_ | 1811204683174248448 |
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| author | Daniel Willcox Helen C. Nash Scott Trageser Hyeon Jeong Kim Lisa Hywood Ellen Connelly Godwill Ichu Ichu Jonas Kambale Nyumu Carla Louise Mousset Moumbolou Daniel J. Ingram Daniel W.S. Challender |
| author_facet | Daniel Willcox Helen C. Nash Scott Trageser Hyeon Jeong Kim Lisa Hywood Ellen Connelly Godwill Ichu Ichu Jonas Kambale Nyumu Carla Louise Mousset Moumbolou Daniel J. Ingram Daniel W.S. Challender |
| author_sort | Daniel Willcox |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The behaviours, ecologies and morphologies of pangolins make them challenging to survey and monitor, and non-targeted wildlife surveys have not produced robust status assessments, especially where population densities are low because of overexploitation. To inform the development of feasible survey and monitoring techniques for pangolins, we conducted a systematic review of all traceable efforts used to survey and monitor pangolins to date: 87 articles were included in the review. Pitfalls of current approaches are discussed and recommendations made on suitable methods. Recommendations include the use of mark-recapture for burrow-dwelling species, community interviews, sign-based surveys in arid and open habitats, detection dog teams, and targeted camera-trapping. Occupancy sampling using camera-traps could be used to monitor some pangolin populations, particularly ground-dwelling species, but the rarity of all species makes it uncertain whether this would provide enough data for monitoring; combinations of methods used within an occupancy sampling framework are likely to be the most effective. There will be many circumstances where direct monitoring of a population at a site, to a level that will generate precise data, is not financially viable nor the best use of conservation resources. In many sites, particularly in Asia, pangolins are too rare as a result of overexploitation, and/or occur in inaccessible areas where significant resources will be needed to implement a targeted monitoring programme. Under such circumstances, the use of proxy variables, including status of other hunting-sensitive species that are easier to record, in combination with enforcement or patrol data and/or community interviews, is likely to be the most cost-effective method for assessing the impact of conservation interventions on pangolin status. The publication of incidental observations and survey ‘by-catch’ would significantly improve understanding of pangolin status and ecology, and therefore how best to identify, conserve and monitor priority populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:17:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5ad0d91fc0f45dd91903a004e2732a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:17:54Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5ad0d91fc0f45dd91903a004e2732a92022-12-22T03:50:02ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942019-01-0117Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populationsDaniel Willcox0Helen C. Nash1Scott Trageser2Hyeon Jeong Kim3Lisa Hywood4Ellen Connelly5Godwill Ichu Ichu6Jonas Kambale Nyumu7Carla Louise Mousset Moumbolou8Daniel J. Ingram9Daniel W.S. Challender10Save Vietnam's Wildlife, Cuc Phuong National Park, Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh Province, Viet Nam; IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; Corresponding author. Save Vietnam's Wildlife, Cuc Phuong National Park, Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh Province, Viet Nam.IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, SingaporeIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; Creative Conservation Alliance, Avenue 3, Road 13 A, House 925, Mirpur DOHS, Dhaka, BangladeshIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USAIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; Tikki Hywood Foundation, 7 Courtenay Ave, P.O. Chisipite, Harare, ZimbabweIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; Tikki Hywood Foundation, 7 Courtenay Ave, P.O. Chisipite, Harare, ZimbabweIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; ZSL CAMEROUN, BP 4558 YAOUNDE NLONGKAK, Localisation des Bureaux, Rue 1794, Ekoudou, Bastos, Yaounde, Cameroon; Pangolin Conservation Network, c/o Central Africa Busmeat Action Group, PB 16463, Miniprix Bastos, Yaounde, CameroonIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; ZSL CAMEROUN, BP 4558 YAOUNDE NLONGKAK, Localisation des Bureaux, Rue 1794, Ekoudou, Bastos, Yaounde, Cameroon; Université de Kisangani, Faculté des Sciences, 1, Kitima avenue, Kisangani, People’s Republic of CongoIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; ZSL CAMEROUN, BP 4558 YAOUNDE NLONGKAK, Localisation des Bureaux, Rue 1794, Ekoudou, Bastos, Yaounde, Cameroon; Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Résidence Royal Bâtiment B Quartier KALIKAK, B.P. 20379, Libreville, GabonIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UKIUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; IUCN Global Species Programme, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK; Department of Zoology and Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Corresponding author. IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.The behaviours, ecologies and morphologies of pangolins make them challenging to survey and monitor, and non-targeted wildlife surveys have not produced robust status assessments, especially where population densities are low because of overexploitation. To inform the development of feasible survey and monitoring techniques for pangolins, we conducted a systematic review of all traceable efforts used to survey and monitor pangolins to date: 87 articles were included in the review. Pitfalls of current approaches are discussed and recommendations made on suitable methods. Recommendations include the use of mark-recapture for burrow-dwelling species, community interviews, sign-based surveys in arid and open habitats, detection dog teams, and targeted camera-trapping. Occupancy sampling using camera-traps could be used to monitor some pangolin populations, particularly ground-dwelling species, but the rarity of all species makes it uncertain whether this would provide enough data for monitoring; combinations of methods used within an occupancy sampling framework are likely to be the most effective. There will be many circumstances where direct monitoring of a population at a site, to a level that will generate precise data, is not financially viable nor the best use of conservation resources. In many sites, particularly in Asia, pangolins are too rare as a result of overexploitation, and/or occur in inaccessible areas where significant resources will be needed to implement a targeted monitoring programme. Under such circumstances, the use of proxy variables, including status of other hunting-sensitive species that are easier to record, in combination with enforcement or patrol data and/or community interviews, is likely to be the most cost-effective method for assessing the impact of conservation interventions on pangolin status. The publication of incidental observations and survey ‘by-catch’ would significantly improve understanding of pangolin status and ecology, and therefore how best to identify, conserve and monitor priority populations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418304190 |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Willcox Helen C. Nash Scott Trageser Hyeon Jeong Kim Lisa Hywood Ellen Connelly Godwill Ichu Ichu Jonas Kambale Nyumu Carla Louise Mousset Moumbolou Daniel J. Ingram Daniel W.S. Challender Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populations Global Ecology and Conservation |
| title | Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populations |
| title_full | Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populations |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populations |
| title_short | Evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) populations |
| title_sort | evaluating methods for detecting and monitoring pangolin pholidata manidae populations |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418304190 |
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