Camera trap data of small mammals at experimental dishes

We conducted cafeteria experiments in 2012/13, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21. In early October, we presented 18 dishes with 10 individually-marked seeds of Fagus sylvatica, two of which were fitted with a VHF-transmitter and eight with a 25-cm wire tag with a colorful flag. To confirm the species identity of visiting rodents, we installed camera traps at each experimental dish in autumn 2019 and 2020. Rodent species composition recorded at the experimental dishes varied between 2019 and 2020, but taxonomic groups other than small mammals were extremely rare in both years. In 2019, camera traps recorded 723 independent detections of small mammals (including 524 encounters of Apodemus spp. and 160 of Myodes glareolus) and in 2020, 79 small mammal detections (including 33 encounters of Glis glis and 13 of Myodes glareolus) during 15 and 23 days of operation, respectively. Encounter rates on camera traps were in line with species composition of life trapping and highlighted the enormous vari..., We installed 18 camera traps (Victure HC600) 60 cm above-ground facing the experimental dishes of our cafeteria experiment and used motion-activated photographs for the identification of mammals and birds in October 2019 and 2020. We manipulated the lenses to ensure sharp images at close distance by turning each lens about 45° counterclockwise. Our custom-built camera rack consists of 20x20 cm plexiglas for the attachment of the camera, screwed on a 1 m threaded rod (10 mm diameter) stuck into the ground (about 30 cm deep). We stick the rod through drilled holes at the center of two aluminum rulers that form a cross on top of the forest floor to enhance stability and reduce vibrations caused by wind. A threaded nut ensures the camera lens to be installed in the preferred distance to the ground (60 cm in our case).
The resulting photographs depict a small segment of the forest floor (about 35*50 cm) with animals being photographed at short distances, to enhance the identification of smal..., , # Camera trap data of small mammals at experimental dishes

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2ngf1vhzn](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2ngf1vhzn)

## Description of the data and file structure

We conducted cafeteria experiments in 2012/13, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21. In early October, we presented 18 dishes with 10 individually-marked seeds of *Fagus sylvatica*, two of which were fitted with a VHF-transmitter and eight with a 25-cm wire tag with a colorful flag. To confirm the species identity of visiting rodents, we installed camera traps at each experimental dish in autumn 2019 and 2020. Rodent species composition recorded at the experimental dishes varied between 2019 and 2020, but taxonomic groups other than small mammals were extremely rare in both years.

### Files and variables

#### File: deployments.csv

**Description:** 

##### Variables

* deploymentID:Unique identifier of the deployment.
* locationID:Identifier of the deployment location.
* latitude:Latitude of the deploymen...