<b>MONITORING CRYPTIC MAMMALIAN SPECIES IN INDIANA USING COMMUNITY-INFORMED MODELING AND ENCLOSED CAMERA TRAPPING</b>
Creators: name: White, Carsten L
Publisher: name: Purdue University Graduate School
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 310399
subject: Ecology not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 319999
subject: Other biological sciences not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 310302
subject: Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology)
classificationCode: 310308
subject: Terrestrial ecology
classificationCode: 310307
subject: Population ecology

description: Mammalian mesocarnivores contribute greatly to a proper functioning ecosystem by exerting top-down population control on prey species. While many of these species can be legally trapped or hunted in Indiana, given their responsibilities in the ecosystem, continuous monitoring of Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and Long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata) by researchers is important to identify potential signs of decline and produce specific management plans. Both U. cinereoargenteus and N. frenata populations are suspected to be declining based on reduced frequencies of observations and harvest. However, each species displays cryptic behaviors that can make observation and effective surveying difficult, which may make the development of accurate assessments of population health unfeasible. To enable better monitoring of populations of these species, I developed a model for potential U. cinereoargenteus habitat and build upon camera trapping survey methods for N. frenata in this project. I used community surveying tools in a presence-only software (e.g., MaxEnt) to develop a consensus model for U. cinereoargenteus potential habitat. I identified five landscape-based covariates (distance to mixed and evergreen forest, distance to low urban cover, distance to shrub/scrub cover, and percent total forest cover per km2 ) that contributed the greatest to predicting the presence of the species. The top models in my project indicated a positive relationship between predicted U. cinereoargenteus presence and forested land cover. Additionally, predicted presence was high when the distance to low urban and shrub/scrub cover was low. In the Southern portion of Indiana predicted areas of presence occurred where larger forest patches exist. This differed from the Central and Northern portions of the state where smaller fragmented forest patches exist. In these areas, predicted areas of presence predominantly occurred near shrub/scrub or low urban cover. These findings will allow researchers to target specific areas for effective surveying and develop species conservation strategies. I also evaluated the ability of three enclosed camera trapping systems (AHDriFT system, Mostela system, and MoHDriFT system) to detect N. frenata. These camera systems have been designed to detect N. frenata and potential prey items, doing so successfully in past studies. I deployed trapping systems in three sites throughout Northeast Indiana from February to November 2023. Camera systems collected data during the project period during unbaited and baited (using sardines) survey periods. During my project, I observed three unique detections of N. frenata, all 9 of which were in the AHDriFT system during unbaited survey periods (P = 0.99; Z = -0.005). During these survey periods when N. frenata were detected, the AHDriFT system accounted for greater prey visitation and prey species abundance than the other two trapping systems (P &lt; 0.01; F = 12). The ability to attract large amounts of prey species while successfully detecting N. frenata in this project may point to the AHDriFT system as the best camara trapping system suited for monitoring this cryptic species. The results from my project provide researchers and state agencies with input for monitoring these two cryptic species. With both species in suspected declines, the research conducted in the two chapters can contribute to portions of future species management plans. By targeting specific areas with predicted suitable habitat for U. cinereoargenteus, agencies can better allocate funds and conduct more extensive species research in Indiana. Likewise, by deploying the AHDriFT system, researchers in Indiana can cost-effectively monitor, not only N. frenata populations, but also small mammal and herp communities with ease. The research in this project provides researchers and state agencies in Indiana with new tools and insights in monitoring these cryptic species that are critical mesocarnivores in the state’s ecosystem.