Estimating the population density of desert rodents using a camera trap method

Rodents are important components of grassland ecosystems. Monitoring rodent population dynamics is of considerable significance with respect to the study of small mammal ecology and has applications in grassland pest control. Until recently, snap traps and live traps have been the main methods for monitoring rodent population; however, both methods are time-consuming and laborious. Although infrared camera technology can be used to overcome these shortcomings, few studies have estimated the population density of small desert rodents using this technology. In this study, infrared camera traps and capture–mark–recapture methods were used to investigate the population density of desert rodents, and the advantages and disadvantages of the respective methods were compared. Our aim was to select a suitable method for monitoring desert rodents populations using infrared camera technology. The results indicated that random encounter and capture rate models based on infrared camera technology performed well in evaluating the population density of two jerboa species (Allactaga sibirica and Dipus sagitta). However, the capture rate model was found to be the more effective of the two models in evaluating the population density of midday gerbils (Meriones meridianus). These results indicate that whereas both methods could be used for monitoring the population densities of jerboa in desert environments, the capture rate model would be more appropriate for multi-rodent species studies.