1. UC Research Station at Anza Borrego
How does human proximity affect animal behavior/distribution at Anza Borrego?

2. Our Question:
Does animal abundance vary depending on distance from field station?
*Related: how is wildlife distributed?
We expect more evidence of animals as we move further away from the station
Our results might also help us understand how wildlife distributed around the Anza Borrego Research Station

3. Our plan... Camera traps and water for visual evidence
Scat ID for physical evidence
Simple and Repeatable
Our data and conclusions will be important when planning conservation projects
Our experiment is simple and repeatable in different settings
Our test will show us how close animals come to the research station for resources. This is relevant to conservation efforts for species of concern.

4. Method

5. Animal Detection by Camera
Camera setup:
20 second clips; 30 second intervals
Cameras secured with rocks and straps
Aluminum pan of water placed at each camera trap location

6. Animal Detection by Camera
Data collection:
SD card data collected onto computer daily at location
Footage erased from SD card
Camera reset

7. Animal Detection by Camera
Finding activity:
Identifiable vertebrates were counted if they occurred at least 5 minutes apart per camera.
Data entered on Excel.

8. Animal Detection by Scat4 5
Collecting 3 2 1
For scats, we

9. Animal Detection by Scat
Collecting
Location (near, far, furthest)
description

10. Animal Detection by Scat
Collecting
Identifying
Elbroch, M., Evans, J., & Kresky, M. (2012). Field guide to animal tracks and scat of California. Berkeley: University of California Press.

11. Results

12. Animal Detection by Camera
Distance from station does not significantly explain sighting abundance (ANOVA, p >> 0.05).
Sighting Abundance
Distance

13. Animal Detection by Camera
Coyotes may stay farther away than rabbits.
Sighting Abundance
Distance

14. Animal Detection by Camera
Abundance varies significantly between the transects (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05).

15. Animal Detection by Camera
Abundance varies significantly between the transects (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05).
←-(Wilcoxon, p < ).
Rabbits
Location

16. Animal Detection by Camera
Although not significant, coyotes show a possible tendency to prefer trails over off-trail areas (Wilcoxon, 0.3 > p > 0.2).
Coyotes
Location

17. Animal Detection by Scat
Total scat count by Distance
Total Scat Counting
0.10 > p > 0.05
Near Far Furthest

18. Animal Detection by Scat
Species vs Location
p<0.0001
Spotted Skunk
Species
Desert Woodrat
Rabbit
Transect Number

19. Animal Detection by Scat
Rabbit
Woodrat
Number of Different Species
Transect
Transect

20. Discussion
No significant relationship between overall animal abundance and proximity to research station

23. Relationship between Blacktail Jackrabbit scat and captured videos
Jackrabbits are using a specific area of the desert
Diet influence
Predator influence
Blacktail Jackrabbit
Desert Woodrat
Species Abundance 1 2 3 4 5
Transect

24. Effect of Habitat on Scat Richness and Abundance
More animals in general are using the main washes
Desert Woodrat scat was common among many transects
Blacktail Jackrabbit scat found on one transect
Higher richness found with scat data
Species Richness 1 2 3 4 5
Transect

25. Effect of Distance on Scat Richness and Abundance
Distance from the UCI station does not influence scat abundance or richness
P value .1 < P > .05
More scat data and replication needed

26. Confounding Variables:
Human Activity

27. Bad Angles

28. Repeatability and Future Studies
Specificity to environment
Anza
Animal behavior and adaptations
Limiting factors
Water
Food
Shade - bird article
Space
Camera traps at scat locations

29. Repeatability and Future Studies
Likely to see similar results in same location
Simple methods
Expect to see different results in different locations
Biodiversity
Behavior
Human “noise”
Future years in same locations
Dry/wet years

30. Conclusion Humans in nature Planning new and current sites
Creating conservation habitats

31. Acknowledgement
Dr. Dina Roberts
Dr. Blake Suttles
Spencer