Last Updated: 3/30/2015

Camera Trapping

The cornerstone of Tepui Watch lies in long term, low impact surveillance of the fauna of Auyan Tepui. Biokryptos utilizes camera traps (synonymous with trail cameras) placed in the field at key locations to catalogue the biodiversity of Auyan, deployed to obtain both a baseline measurement of faunal diversity and to look for target species identified in research gap analysis. The camera trapping methodology roughly follows the norms and guidelines of camera trapping studies outlined by the Tropical Ecology Assessment and Management (TEAM) system, though currently scaled down due to the availability of funding. Thus far, Tepui Watch uses the two Moultrie D55 IR Gamespy cameras used in the initial study and additional cameras manufactured by Moultrie; two D 444 8 MP Low Glow camera traps, which are compatible with field placed solar panels, one Moultrie 5A Low Glow Game Camera, and as of August 2014 two Reconyx PC800 cameras. As this is the first time these particular brands are subjected to the rigors of functioning for long periods of time on the rain soaked tepui summits, different models with different power requirements and shutter speeds were selected so a post field study analysis can be conducted on the performance of the cameras. This study will utilize more trail cameras in the future as funding allows.

Long term placement of these traps on Auyan will produce the kind of field observations that have not been replicated since the initial explorations of Auyan by the  1937-38 Phelps expedition, during which 29 species of mammal were observed on the summit, many of which have which have not been subsequently verified on the summit of Auyan. Our camera trapping study is currently the only study of its kind to take place on a tepui summit, with a scope and method that go beyond previous field surveys to investigate the unknown areas of Auyan Tepui.

The traps are placed in  three areas on Auyan: 1) forested talus slopes, 2) accessible human used trails and 3) remote locations on the tepui summit which reflect ecosystem diversity.

 

 

1) Talus slope monitoring, Campo Guayaraca, 1000 meter elevation, Penon, 1500 metres elevation

Talus slope monitoring will create a distribution map of the lowland animals which can range into higher elevation mountain forests with tepui-like floral assemblages. As global warming pushes the climate envelope some 500-700 metres toward the summits, animals photographed on the slopes may become future invasive within the ascending climate envelope. Any seed dispersers (such as Cerdocyon thous or Nasua nasua) photographed on the talus slopes may contribute to the movement of lowland plant species upwards to the summit. Understanding where these animals are spatially and extrapolating their requirements and behaviors can help to produce effective conservation strategies.

Guayaraca:

Pinon:

 

2) Trail Monitoring

Monitoring faunal distribution along human trails and rest sites can be useful in determining if human activity is having an impact on the behavior of tepui mammals. This phenomenon is discussed in both Havelkova et al (2006) and Robovsky et al (2007) in regard to the presence of coatis on the tepui summits. Although both authors eventually dismiss the notion of human enticement in tepui coati distribution, the phenomena has been photographically documented in two separate species (Nasua nasua and Cerdocyon thous). The target areas in this instance are within 100 metres of known rest sites, including Campo Naranja, Penon, and El Oso. This area is the primary trail on Auyan Tepui, proceeding from the southern entrance point on Auyan up to the second wall and the Churum Falls.

 

3) Remote Location Monitoring

The vast majority of Auyan has never been surveyed by scientists due to a variety of factors, including expense and the harsh nature tepui summit environment. Some of these regions have been visited only for short periods of time by expedition teams in the form of temporary camps, raging in operation from 1 to 5 days. At a number of these temporary camps, sightings of large lowland animals have occurred, which have thus far not been investigated in detail. Verification of these reports would change our understanding of tepui summit biology and carrying capacity. Target areas include the northern portion of Auyan, the Valle Encantada in the west, and gallery forests in the central portion of Auyan. Getting to these locations will require the use of a helicopter, or the establishment of new temporary trails during which transect surveys can be conducted. Investigating these target locations on the summit is critical to Biokryptos, as they are truly pristine environments unaltered by human activities. The health of these regions needs to be monitored to gauge the impact that climate change is having on the tepuis. We can only proceed with environmental monitoring once we truly know the biotic composition of these remote and unexplored places. While difficult to access, Biokryptos principle investigators are making their way into these areas, to place camera traps and explore these under-surveyed portions of Auyan.