Systematic images from camera-traps: a proposal of data card

Abstract

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF BIOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS IS TO ACCUMULATE BIOLOGICAL DATA. THE USE OF CAMERA-TRAPS FOR INVENTORIES AND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MAMMALS HAS SHOWN A NOTEWORTHY RECENT INCREASE. HOWEVER, THE BASIC INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMAGES IS NOT ORGANIZED IN A FORMAL OR SYSTEMATIC WAY, LIKE THE SPECIMENS OF A SCIENTIFIC COLLECTION. HERE, WE PROPOSE A FORMAT TO PRODUCE DIGITAL PHOTOSAMPLING CARDS WHERE THE IMAGE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHED SPECIES IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAME BASIC INFORMATION THAT IS RECORDED FOR A TRADITIONAL SAMPLE; IN THIS WAY, THEY CAN BE EASILY INORPORATED IN SCIENTIFIC COLLECTIONS, THUS DOCUMENTING THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION FOR THE SITES THAT ARE SAMPLED BY THIS METHOD.