Camera-trap data for fitting the random encounter model to estimate densities of coyotes and black-tailed jackrabbits in the Mojave Desert
Data files
Nov 29, 2024 version files 30.41 KB
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README.md
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REM_Camera_Data_2019-2021.csv
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Abstract
These data are comprised of input files formatted for fitting the random encounter model to estimate seasonal densities of coyotes (Canis latrans) and black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) in the Mojave Desert, USA. Data were collected from 40 camera-traps that were randomly placed with respect to coyote and/or jackrabbit sign (e.g., tracks, scat, direct observations) and 43 camera-traps that were strategically placed where coyote and/or jackrabbit sign existed. Data were collected within and adjacent to the Boulder City Conservation Easment, Nevada, USA, during 2019-2021. Data were collected as part of a predator-prey ecology study for which one component was to estimate seasonal densities of coyotes and black-tailed jackrabbits through time.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.djh9w0w6v
Camera-trap detection data (REM_Camera_Data_2019-2021.csv) comprised of coyote and black-tailed jackrabbit detections, camera detection parameters, and camera operation times formatted for fitting the random encounter model to estimate densities.
Description of the data and file structure
Data are formatted specifically for fitting the random encounter model using the remBoot package in R (GitHub - arcaravaggi/remBoot: R package for Random Encounter Modelling). Descriptions of variables are provided below:
Camera - Categorical identifier for each camera-trap site. Randomly deployed cameras have A through J prefixes. Strategically deployed cameras have WC prefixes.
Site - Categorical identifier for each species x year x season dataset. The BTJ and COY prefixes denote data for black-tailed jackrabbits and coyotes, respectively. Seasons are denoted by W and S endings to the identifier, which represent winter and summer, respectively.
Count - The number of unique detection events of a given species recorded at each camera during each year x season.
Distance - The radial detection distance (m) from each camera. This was value was fixed at 0.005 for all cameras.
Theta - The zone (arc) of detection for each camera. This value was fixed at 0.7661 for all cameras.
Time - The total number of days that each camera was active and operational during each year x season.
Data were collected from 40 camera-traps that were randomly placed with respect to coyote and/or jackrabbit sign (e.g., tracks, scat, direct observations) and 43 camera-traps that were strategically placed where coyote and/or jackrabbit sign existed. Data were collected within and adjacent to the Boulder City Conservation Easment, Nevada, USA. Data files are formatted for fitting the random encounter model, and are organized by season (wet vs. dry), year (2019, 2020, 2021), and species (coyote vs. jackrabbit).