scat transect surveys (Cervidae)

Knowledge graph centered on scat transect surveys (Cervidae) with 69 nodes and 207 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Scarlet Gilia, Barbey's Larkspur, Nuttall's Larkspur.

Method synopsis

Systematic collection and GPS mapping of predator scats along established trail networks to quantify spatial patterns of predator activity relative to human disturbance. Scat density is calculated per unit distance of trail within distance intervals from human infrastructure.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 3 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Coyotes, deer, and wildflowers: diverse evidence points to a trophic cascade (2014), Naturwissenschaften. The protocol was originally introduced by The Landscape of Fear and Trophic Cascades: Does Human Presence at RMBL Affect Deer Behavior? (2010). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Collect and map coyote scat distribution
   Researchers walked 17-19 km of trails during summers of 2010, 2011, and 2013, collecting all coyote scats deposited on trails and mapping their locations. From this, scat density per meter of trail was calculated at different distances from the most peripheral summer-occupied RMBL building. Isolines were drawn at increasing distances from nearest cabins and total meters of trail walked in each distance interval was calculated.
   Quantities: 17-19 km of trails walked, scats mapped at distances of <250m, 250-500m, 500-750m, and >750m from nearest cabinDuration: Multiple summer field seasons in 2010, 2011, 2013Conditions: Summer months
   Equipment: GPS unit, collection containers

Typical Equipment

• GPS unit
• collection containers

Output Measurements

• scat density per meter of trail
• spatial distribution of predator activity

Papers Using This Protocol (3)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used