Testing indices of deer abundance using camera traps

Abstract

Land managers commonly use camera traps to monitor abundance of pest animals over time. Images recorded by the cameras need to be analysed to estimate population density or, more commonly, converted into an index of abundance. To be useful, this index needs to have the same relationship with population size under all possible conditions (e.g. times, places). In this study we compare trends in indices of abundance with accurate estimates of abundance for two populations of feral rusa deer (Cervus timorensis).