Sample collection occurs annually during the rainforest dry season (June - August). Sample transport and analyses occur between September and April.
This protocol is intended to be carried out by a team of 4 individuals, including at least 2 trained personnel. Roles include: (1) designated handler; (2) chemical restraint operator; (3) sampling assistant; (4) data recorder.
500-meter long transects of Sherman and Tomahawk live traps are set up at multiple locations encompassing major habitat types surrounding the field station (terra firme, flood plain, swamp, bamboo, successional forest, primary forest, edge forest, etc). Captures take place over 3 consecutive days at each location throughout the sample collection period. Dependent on resource availability and personnel, we strive for an annual sample size of 300 subjects from EBLA.
Trap transects are baited and activated at 17:00 hours and revisited at 05:00 hours the following day to check for successful captures -> unsuccessful traps are deactivated, successful traps are collected and brought to a nearby tent for processing (15 - 30 min, depending on the number of captures) -> one-by-one, animals are extracted from the traps, chemically restrained for safe processing of morphometric measurements, photographs, nonlethal tissue collection (skin biopsy, fur/nail, blood, mucosal swabs), and placement of microchips or ID tags (10-15 min) -> after processing animals are transferred into a light and breathable cloth bag or covered holding cage, with 3-minute checks for breathing and movement until fully alert (on average ~ 5 - 10 minutes) -> once alert, animals are immediately released at the same site of capture along the transect.
Capture (Additional Details)
Animals are diverse in their behaviors, attraction to bait, and use of forest habitat. The bulk of captures will be achieved via baited terrestrial sherman traps, however, some traps will be fastened higher up, onto tree substrates, to increase the likelihood of sampling species that forage in trees, or spend little time on the ground.