The use of camera-trap data to model habitat use by antelope species in the Udzungwa Mountain forests, Tanzania

The ecology of many species of duiker, and other African forest antelope, is poorly known and yet knowledge of the factors determining their distribution and abundance is critical to the conservation of this increasingly threatened group. Camera-trapping was used to investigate forest antelope ecology in the biologically diverse Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. The relationship between camera-trapping rates and vegetation (and other habitat variables) was investigated using generalized linear modelling. Over 630 photographs of antelope were obtained, with Harvey's duiker being the most recorded species. The camera-trap rate of Harvey's duiker was positively related to the species diversity of small plant stems and negatively related to an index of visibility, while that of suni antelope was negatively related to the percentage ground cover of leaf-litter. The camera-trap rate of Harvey's duiker was also negatively related to distance to the nearest village, as predicted for a species targeted for subsistence hunting. Camera-traps also recorded bushbuck and the threatened Tanzanian endemic Abbott's duiker, but there were insufficient captures to model habitat use for these species. Results of this study illustrate the potential of camera-trapping for modelling habitat requirements and providing guidelines for the conservation management of threatened antelope populations in forest habitats. © 2007 The Authors