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Global disparity of camera trap research allocation and defaunation risk of terrestrial mammals
Mugerwa, Badru; Niedballa, Jürgen; Planillo, Aimara; Sheil, Douglas; Kramer‐Schadt, Stephanie; Wilting, Andreas
Quantifying and monitoring the risk of defaunation and extinction require assessing and monitoring biodiversity in impacted regions. Camera traps that photograph animals as they pass sensors have revolutionized wildlife assessment and monitoring globally. We conducted a global review of camera trap research on terrestrial mammals over the last two decades. We assessed if the spatial distribution of 3395 camera trap research locations from 2324 studies overlapped areas with high defaunation risk. We used a geospatial distribution modeling approach to predict the spatial allocation of camera trap research on terrestrial mammals and to identify its key correlates. We show that camera trap research over the past two decades has not targeted areas where defaunation risk is highest and that 76.8% of the global research allocation can be attributed to country income, biome, terrestrial mammal richness, and accessibility. The lowest probabilities of camera trap research allocation occurred in low-income countries. The Amazon and Congo Forest basins – two highly biodiverse ecosystems facing unprecedented anthropogenic alteration – received inadequate camera trap research attention. Even within the best covered regions, most of the research (64.2%) was located outside the top 20% areas where defaunation risk was greatest. To monitor terrestrial mammal populations and assess the risk of extinction, more research should be extended to regions with high defaunation risk but have received low camera trap research allocation.
Kuhesabu na kufuatilia hatari ya uharibifu na kutoweka kunahitaji kutathmini na kufuatilia bioanuwai katika maeneo yaliyoathiriwa. Mitego ya kamera ambayo hupiga picha wanyama wanapopita vihisi vimeleta mapinduzi makubwa katika tathmini na ufuatiliaji wa wanyamapori duniani kote. Tulifanya ukaguzi wa kimataifa wa utafiti wa mitego ya kamera kuhusu mamalia wa nchi kavu katika miongo miwili iliyopita. Tulitathmini ikiwa usambazaji wa anga wa maeneo 3395 ya utafiti wa mitego ya kamera kutoka tafiti 2324 ulipishana maeneo yenye hatari kubwa ya upotovu. Tulitumia mbinu ya kielelezo cha usambazaji wa kijiografia kutabiri mgao wa anga wa utafiti wa mtego wa kamera kwa mamalia wa nchi kavu na kutambua uhusiano wake muhimu. Tunaonyesha kwamba utafiti wa kamera katika miongo miwili iliyopita haujalenga maeneo ambayo hatari ya uharibifu ni kubwa zaidi na kwamba 76.8% ya mgao wa utafiti wa kimataifa unaweza kuhusishwa na mapato ya nchi, biome, utajiri wa mamalia wa nchi kavu na ufikiaji. Uwezekano mdogo zaidi wa ugawaji wa utafiti wa mitego ya kamera ulitokea katika nchi za kipato cha chini. Mabonde ya Misitu ya Amazon na Kongo - mifumo miwili ya viumbe hai inayokabiliwa na mabadiliko ya kianthropojeni ambayo hayajawahi kushuhudiwa - yalipata usikivu wa kutosha wa utafiti wa mtego wa kamera. Hata ndani ya maeneo yaliyofunikwa vizuri zaidi, utafiti mwingi (64.2%) ulipatikana nje ya maeneo ya juu ya 20% ambapo hatari ya kuharibika ilikuwa kubwa zaidi. Ili kufuatilia idadi ya mamalia wa nchi kavu na kutathmini hatari ya kutoweka, utafiti zaidi unapaswa kuenezwa kwa maeneo yenye hatari kubwa ya uharibifu lakini yamepokea mgao wa chini wa utafiti wa mtego wa kamera.
