Effects of camera?trap placement and number on detection of members of a mammalian assemblage

A central goal in camera-trapping (CT) studies is to maximize detection probability and precision of occupancy estimates while minimizing the number CTs reduce equipment labor costs. Few studies, however, have examined effect CT on probability. Moreover, historically, most focused a specific species design could be tailored toward maximizing this target species. Increasingly, such use data for all captured, non-target, (by-catch data) animal community-level analyses. It remains unclear if, how, targeting one affects non-target We paired from permanent grid (with 38 CTs) targeted at monitoring Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) Innlandet County, Norway, with additional randomly placed two spatial scales (38 within same habitat patch 50-km2 cell as lynx-targeted three months. combined multi-scale models that enable separation large-scale occupancy, CT-scale site use, single-scale models. This allowed us study effects placement (lynx) seven mammal (four carnivores, herbivores, rodent). found species, except moose (Alces alces), had highest CTs. Moose equal probabilities types. Adding extra generally increased probabilities. Consequently, combining or more CTs, accuracy cells compared single estimates. The underestimated grid-cell known minimum were similar site-use is, uncertain which extent these refer. therefore recommend multiple (targeted) estimate large interpret an, yet undefined, area surrounding CT.