Long-term capture-recapture morphometric monitoring (Bovidae)

Knowledge graph centered on Long-term capture-recapture morphometric monitoring (Bovidae) with 22 nodes and 91 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Marmota, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Crested Butte, birds and mammals.

Method synopsis

Repeated capture and measurement of individually marked wild mammals over multiple years to quantify measurement error and individual variation in hind-foot length. Uses species-appropriate trapping methods combined with standardized morphometric measurements.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper 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 — Detecting between-individual differences in hind-foot length in populations of wild animals (2013), Canadian Journal of Zoology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Trap yellow-bellied marmots
   Marmots were trapped using Tomahawk live traps baited with oats and salt or horse-feed near burrows and foraging areas. Animals were measured in a canvas handling bag with distance between heel and center front of foot pad measured using electronic calipers to nearest 0.1 mm.
   Quantities: 946 measurements on 97 individual marmotsDuration: Regularly during summer from 2002 to 2011Conditions: Summer trapping season
   Equipment: Tomahawk live traps, electronic calipers, canvas handling bag
2. Capture and measure mountain goats
   Mountain goats were caught using Clover and Stephenson box traps baited with salt. Adults (≥3 years) were chemically immobilized with xylazine injection, then blindfolded and hog-tied. Left hind-foot length measured using soft tape from calcaneum to hoof tip.
   Quantities: 94 measurements on 40 individual mountain goatsDuration: From 1988 to 2011Conditions: Animals chemically immobilized and restrained
   Equipment: Clover box traps, Stephenson box traps, xylazine, soft tape measure
3. Capture and measure bighorn sheep
   Bighorn sheep were caught in corral trap baited with salt. Animals were manually restrained, blindfolded and hog-tied together with rope during measurements. Left hind-foot length measured using soft tape from calcaneum to hoof tip.

Typical Equipment

• Tomahawk live traps
• Clover box traps
• Stephenson box traps
• corral trap
• electronic calipers
• soft tape measure

Output Measurements

• hind-foot length
• individual capture histories
• measurement repeatability

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used