Data from: Arboreal camera trapping: taking a proven method to new heights

1. Although camera trapping has been shown to be a highly effective non-invasive tool for wildlife monitoring, the technique has not yet been widely applied to studies of arboreal species. Despite the unique challenges that camera trapping in the canopy poses, its versatility and relatively non-invasive nature, combined with recent technological improvements on the cameras themselves, make camera trapping a highly useful tool for arboreal research. 2. We present data on the methodology and effectiveness of arboreal camera trapping during the first six months of a year-long study in the Lower Urubamba Region of Peru investigating animal use of natural crossing points (i.e., branches) over a natural gas pipeline clearing. We placed Reconyx PC800 Hyperfire cameras in 25 crossing points of 13 distinct natural canopy bridges at a mean height of 26.8m. 3. After six months of data collection, we logged 1,522 photo events, recording 20 mammal, 23 bird, and four reptile species. An analysis of animal passing events in front of the cameras over time did not suggest any negative response to camera presence. While we found that cameras in the canopy are triggered more frequently by non-target stimuli (e.g., leaves) than cameras on the ground, we demonstrated significantly reduced false triggering following leaf removal within 1.5 meters of the camera. 4. Our results suggest that arboreal camera trapping can provide robust documentation of a diversity of vertebrate species engaged in a variety of activities, and we provide recommendations for other researchers interested in using in this method. This is the most extensive arboreal camera trapping study to date in terms of the length of the study period, the number of cameras being used, and the height of the cameras in the trees. Therefore, lessons provided from this experience can be used to improve the design of future arboreal camera trap studies.

1. 尽管相机陷阱监测法（camera trapping）已被证实为野生动物监测领域极为高效的非侵入式工具，但该技术迄今尚未广泛应用于树栖物种的相关研究。尽管冠层内的相机陷阱监测面临诸多独特挑战，但其兼具多功能性与相对非侵入的特性，再加上近年来相机硬件本身的技术迭代，使其成为树栖研究中极具实用价值的研究工具。
2. 本研究针对秘鲁下乌鲁班巴地区一项为期一年的野外研究的前六个月，呈现了树栖相机陷阱监测的方法与效果数据，该研究旨在探究动物如何利用天然气管道清理区域上方的自然跨径点（即树枝）。我们在13座独立的天然冠层桥的25个跨径点布设了Reconyx PC800 Hyperfire相机，布设平均高度达26.8米。
3. 历经六个月的数据采集，我们共记录到1522次拍照事件，涵盖20种哺乳动物、23种鸟类与4种爬行动物。针对相机前方动物经过事件的时序分析并未显示出动物对相机存在的负面反应。尽管我们发现冠层相机被非目标刺激（如树叶）触发的频率高于地面布设的相机，但实验证实，在相机1.5米范围内移除树叶后，误触发情况得到了显著改善。
4. 本研究结果表明，树栖相机陷阱监测法可对参与各类活动的多样脊椎动物类群提供可靠的记录，同时我们为其他有意采用该研究方法的科研人员提供了实操建议。本研究是目前在研究周期长度、布设相机数量以及相机树上布设高度方面覆盖最为全面的树栖相机陷阱监测研究，因此本研究积累的实践经验可用于优化未来树栖相机陷阱研究的方案设计。