Wildlife Surveys Flashcards
Define the term ‘wildlife survey’.
A scientific method used to collect data about wildlife populations, their habitats and behaviours
What do wildlife surveys help researchers, conservationists, and policymakers do?
Monitor biodiversity
Assess the health of ecosystems
Make informed decisions about wildlife management and conservation
What might be recorded during wildlife surveys?
Population trends
Male and female ratios
How many juveniles reach sexual maturity
What are the purpose of wildlife surveys?
To estimate population sizes or densities
To identify species present in a specific area
To monitor changes in wildlife populations over time
To assess habitat, use and preferences
To detect threats
What are the considerations that need to be thought about before conducting a wildlife survey?
The species the survey is about
The season the survey is being conducted in
Any breeding and mating seasons
The time of day the survey is being conducted in
How many people is needed to conduct the survey
The equipment needed to conduct the survey
What effect the survey is going to have
Define the term ‘acoustic monitoring’.
Involves surveying and monitoring wildlife and environments using acoustic sensors which are sound recorders
After collection these recordings are processed to extract useful ecological data which is then analysed similarly to other types of survey data
Define the term ‘camera traps’.
A digital camera connected to an infrared sensor which can sense warm objects that are moving like animals
When an animal moves past the sensor it causes the camera to fire recording an image or video to the memory card for later retrieval
Define the term ‘track and sign surveying’.
Identifying animals by their tracks, droppings, and other signs
Size, gender, maturity status and diet of the animal can all be found from analysing tracks and droppings
Whether or not the animal is pregnant can also be found out
Define the term ‘aerial surveying’.
The use of drones, helicopters or planes to cover large areas in contrast with surveys on foot or in vehicles
Used to survey large populations communities
Define the term ‘direct observation’.
Observing animals visually or through video recordings
Define the term ‘sweep netting’.
A technique used to collect and sample invertebrates
A net is used to gather up invertebrates in a given habitat in order to collect and count them
They are then released back where they were found
Define the term ‘pitfall traps’.
Holes that are dug in the ground with a bucket to catch animals that fall in
Animals that fall in are collected, counted and then released
The traps are checked regularly to ensure the survival of the animals that have fallen in due to the lack of food and water
This technique is generally used to collect invertebrates or very small vertebrates
Define the term ‘light traps’.
Mostly used to survey nocturnal moths
The light attracts the moths over to them in order to catch and count them and their populations
Define the term ‘spraint surveys’.
Used to study elusive animals by looking for and analysing their spraints (droppings)
Used to survey animals that are difficult to observe in the wild
Define the term ‘kick sampling’.
A technique used to sample invertebrates in a stream
A net is held under water and the surrounded substrate is disturbed by foot in hope that whatever was disturbed goes into the net
The aquatic invertebrates are then counted and observed before being released
Define the term ‘quadrats surveying’.
Putting a square template down and recording what’s in the square
Define the term ‘line transecting’.
A path along which the observer moves along counting any observations of a given species
Define the term ‘point transecting’.
Mostly used to survey bird populations
Involves standing still in a certain place and recording the sightings of a species
Define the term ‘tagging’.
Placing an electronic tag on an animal to monitor their movement and to estimate population sizes
