https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hqbzkh1t1

Description of the data and file structure

Data was collected to determine whether ultrasonic signals could be used to deter dingoes to protect native prey for conservation management. Data were collected on 12 clusters of 5 camera-traps during control and experimental treatment periods. Experimental treatment involved playing back (continuously) ultrasonic signals. The detection and behaviour of dingoes as they approached the speakers were recorded. Analysis code is included comparing behaviour and detections of dingoes in the control and treatment periods. Further comparison was made between high and low intensity ultrasonic treatment.  

Files and variables

File: Ultrasonic_Experiment_Data_Gamage.xlsx

Description: 

Excel file containing 4 worksheets. 

Dingo_Obs, Predator_Count, Dingo_FM, ALL_Camera_Time 

Variables

• Unit (individual playback site; 12 sites, labelled 1-12)
• Date (Date of observation)
• Time (Time of observation, LMT Sydney Australia)
• Species (detected species)
• CR (CLOSE RIGHT- camera-trap situated close to and on right hand side of playback unit; values are yes/no indicating whether the animal was detected on that camera) 
• CL (CLOSE LEFT- camera-trap situated close to and on left hand side of playback unit; values are yes/no indicating whether the animal was detected on that camera) 
• FR (FAR RIGHT- camera-trap situated further from and on right hand side of playback unit; values are yes/no indicating whether the animal was detected on that camera) 
• FM (FRONT MIDDLE- camera-trap situated directly opposite playback unit; values are yes/no indicating whether the animal was detected on that camera) 
• FL (FAR LEFT- camera-trap situated further from and on left hand side of playback unit; values are yes/no indicating whether the animal was detected on that camera) 
• Site_Type (indicates the treatment that occurred at the site during the observation; control- when no playback occurred but equipment was in place; treatment - when ultrasonic playback was occurring)
• Behaviour (indicates the behaviour of the animal during the detection: “no effect”, when an animal walked past a camera without variation in speed or direction; “startled” when an animal either slowed or stopped, but subsequently continued in the same direction at the same speed; “deterred” when an animal either changed its direction and/or increased its speed of travel as it moved past)
• Intensity (non- for control periods; low - a single playback device was used; high- two playback units were used together)
• Experiment (one- the first round of experiments; two- the second round of experiments)
• Week (1 or 2- whether the observation occurred in the first week or the second week of experiments- with treatments being changed after 1 week)
• Go_By (whether the detected species passed by the playback-unit/centre camera; 1=yes, 0=no, after being detected on one of the external cameras)
• Day (1-7 of each treatment)
• Daily_Count (dingoes seen on any camera)
• Seen_FM (dingoes seen on FM camera)
• Time_In_FM (time in seconds the animal spent in the field of view of the FM camera)

Code/software

Code is provided in R. Required packages are listed in the code.