Combining camera trap surveys and IUCN range maps to improve knowledge of species distributions
Cite this dataset
Chen, Cheng (2024). Combining camera trap surveys and IUCN range maps to improve knowledge of species distributions [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.83bk3j9vp
Abstract
Reliable maps of species distributions are fundamental for biodiversity research and conservation. Range maps created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List are often considered authoritative but may not match species occurrence data. We tested concordance between occurrences from camera trap surveys and predicted occurrence from IUCN maps for 510 medium- to large-bodied mammalian species in 80 camera-trap sampling areas. Across all areas, cameras detected 39% of the species that were expected to occur based on IUCN ranges. The probability of mismatches between camera traps and IUCN range maps was significantly higher for smaller-bodied mammals and habitat specialists in the Neotropics and Indomalaya, and in areas with shorter canopy forests. Our results indicate that in many areas within their range map distributions species may be rare or absent. We suggest that combining range map data with accumulating data from ground-based biodiversity sensors, such as camera traps, acoustic recorders, and eDNA surveys, provides a richer knowledge base for conservation mapping and planning.
README
Minimal reproducible code for modelling in
Chen et al. 2022, Combining camera trap surveys and IUCN range maps can improve knowledge of species distributions
Code to run binomial regression models
Dataframe has 2967 obs. of 16 variables
Name
Type
Unit
Explanatation
speciesScientificName
Character
NA
scientific name of the species
type
Character
NA
three categories of species occurrences: A-camera only, B-Both, C-IUCN only
projectID\
Character
NA
project ID
ForStrat.Value
Binomial
NA
Foraging stratum:G (1) species restricted to terrestrial surfaces, Semi-Ar (0) - Semi-arboreal
BodyMass.Value
Numerical
g
Mean adult body mass of a species (g)
Activity.Nocturnal
Binomial
NA
Nocturnality (1), other (0);
IUCN_frq\
Numerical\
NA\
Total IUCN assessments of a species
IUCN_year\
Numerical
NA
Year of latest IUCN assessments of a species
IUCN_cat\
Numerical
NA
The extinction risk of species assessed by IUCN Red List. Categories were coded as integers: Least Concern (LC -1), Near Threatened (NT-2), Vulnerable (VU-3), Endangered (EN -4), Critically Endangered (CR - 5), and Data Deficient (NA)
realm\
Character
NA
The zoogeographical realm where a camera trap survey was conducted
Tree_mean
Numerical
meter
Forest canopy height (m)
sampling_effort_t
Numerical
camera trap days
The total camera days of a camera trap project
hab_breadth
Numerical
NA
The number of IUCN habitats listed as suitable. Ranging from 1-35. Species without habitat breadth data are coded as: NA
range_area\
Numerical
km2
Range area of IUCN range map (km2)
order\
Character
NA
The order of the species
Funding
China Scholarship Council