THE PROJECT
During my masters degree, I have to collect data in the field that will be analysed later before the write-up. Firstly, I start building step by step the project in a short proposal submitted to your supervisor. Basically, it contains: a short background (to summarize briefly what had been done until now on the subject and what your study will add), the methods used to get data, time schedule and references. After, your project can finally begins and the process of preparation (tools, schedule,…) starts.
The project involving me and Zoe is part of a big program called the Karoo BioGaps Project (see more details). Our main goal will be to estimate the diversity of mammals in the Karoo and attemp to determine the factors which allows species to occur in these arid environments.
We have a minimum of 30 sites to sample along the Karoo region. We divided them in 3 which means 10 sites surveyed by session. In fact, there will be 3 sessions between September 2016 and April 2017.
Concerning the fieldwork, Zoe is collected data on medium and large mammals. She sets camera traps in each site which will stay 30 days (time between each session) in total. On my side, I will be trapping small mammals during one night per site (session 1-2) and three night per site (session 3) to detect any differences in capture rates and also ensure no bias in the data.
Trapping small mammals involves a lot of work and effort but the methods remain quite simple and require ethic clearance from the research institute. Different type of traps can be used: in this study, I will use live traps called sherman traps (see picture below).
Trap disposition in the field with aerothane cover (protection) and danger tape (visual landmark).
They are really easy to transport and set which is of importance, especially because we will have to move from site to site each day. The cover is to protect the animal from weather conditions, and at each 5 traps (less if too much vegetation) a piece of danger tape is used as a landmark. Traps will be set during the day and baited before dust. They will be checked shortly after dawn, before the temperature rise too much to avoid dehydration of the animal if captured.
Every captured animal will be identified, weighed, measured and sexed before release directly at the capture site. All animals will be safely handled.
Note: We are actually on the field for the moment until mid-september. I will post the next
article around the end of the month which will describe our first updates !
