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Training of a dog for the monitoring of Osmoderma eremita.

Authors :
Mosconi, Fabio
Campanaro, Alessandro
Carpaneto, Giuseppe Maria
Chiari, Stefano
Hardersen, Sönke
Mancini, Emiliano
Maurizi, Emanuela
Sabatelli, Simone
Zauli, Agnese
Mason, Franco
Audisio, Paolo
Source :
Nature Conservation; 2017, Vol. 20, p237-264, 28p
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

One aim of the MIPP Project (http://www.lifemipp.eu) was to develop non-invasive monitoring methods for selected saproxylic beetles. In this paper, a method is proposed for monitoring the larvae of Osmoderma eremita in their natural habitat (i.e. hollow trees), using a conservation detection dog (CDD). Wood mould sampling (WMS), the standard method to detect hermit beetles and other saproxylic insects inside tree hollows, is time-consuming and exposes the target species and the whole saproxylic communities to some risks. In contrast, CDDs pose no risk to the species living inside trees while, at the same time, offer a powerful tool for surveying the insects. In this paper, the methods applied to train the dog are presented, together with the results for accuracy (the overall proportion of correct indications), sensitivity (the proportion of correct positive indications) and specificity (the proportion of correct negative indications) obtained once the CDD had been fully trained. Results are presented for nitrocellulose filters with the odour of the target species, for larvae living inside hollow trees, for frass and for the remains of adults. A comparison of the efficiency between CDD and WMS showed that employing the dog was much less time-consuming than WMS. The literature on training CDDs for nature conservation tasks, with particular reference to cases involving Coleoptera, was also reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13146947
Volume :
20
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Nature Conservation
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
127134228
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.20.12688