From Forest Floor to Treetops: Capturing Mammalian Diversity with Camera Traps

Faculty Mentors

Dr. Sapana Lohani and Dr. John Swaddle

Project Description

W&M students will work with Centre for Sustainability, PH to design and implement a camera trap study to document the presence, behavior and habitat use of wildlife species in the Sultan Peak Critical Forest Habitat of the Philippines.

Effective Protection of Critical Forest Habitats in Sultan Peak, Philippines requires an understanding of the wildlife and their habitat needs. W&M students will assist in documenting the diversity of fauna, particularly mammals, in the proposed Sultan Peak Critical Habitat by Centre for Sustainability PH Inc. using non-invasive camera trapping methods.

This study will focus on understanding the vertical niche partitioning of fauna from the ground to the canopy. By strategically placing camera traps at various heights within the forest, the team will capture data on the presence, behavior, and interactions of different mammalian species across vertical strata.

The team will determine habitat suitability and range through ecological modeling. This comprehensive approach will provide valuable insights into the habitat preferences, ecological roles, and distribution of these animals, contributing to informed conservation strategies for the preservation of Sultan Peak's unique ecosystem.

Number of Students

2

Prerequisites and Required Skills:

One student on the team will need to have completed introduction to GIS (GIS 201 equivalent).

Travel Required

W&M students will travel together to Palawan, Philippines to work with Centre for Sustainability PH on this project. Students will stay at a basic hotel with limited wifi and electricity in Puerto Princesa and may be camping in forests with the CS team to help with field data collection. Students should be prepared for multicultural experience, humidity, and hiking on variable terrain.

Project ID - Format

25-008-25 - CRP Year