Effect of phytophysiognomy on the detectability of fecal samples by sniffer dogs.

• Grant number: 24/08538-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte
• Grantee: Pollyanna Dias Moimas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Population densities are fundamental information for in situ species managementand conservation assessment but can be particularly challenging to obtain for elusiveand cryptic species. Additionally, inconsistencies in population density data can resultin inadequate wrong classifications and hinder conservation plans. Non-invasivemethodologies, such as Faecal Standing Crop (FSC), have been used to estimatepopulation density for elusive species, such as forest cervids and other herbivores. Scatdetection dogs have been used in FSC to search and enhance the detectability of feces inthe field, which may be influenced by weather and habitat type due to degradation andscent dissipation of fecal samples. Therefore, evaluating the effect of habitat on dogdetectability will allow for planning data collection to overcome potential biases duringfield sampling and, consequently, obtain more reliable data in population estimates.This study aims to test the hypothesis of the effect of habitat type on fecal sampledetectability by scat detection dogs. Four 400 m transects will be outlined in open fieldand forest habitats, where 20 fecal samples will be spaced at regular intervals of 40 m atdistances of 0, 5, 10, and 15 m perpendicular to the transect. Fecal sample depositionwill be temporally divided into intervals of 1, 8, 12, and 14 days. Each transect will besampled four times, with 30-day intervals between samplings, resulting in 6400 m ofsampling effort. Estimates will be performed using the FSC method, employing atrained scat detection dog and GPS, and detection between forest and open field habitatswill be compared using a Students t-test.