These guides describe how to collect camera-trap and acoustic data so that they can be compared across parks and years, and how to turn them into verified data on biomon.app. They are written for research departments and ranger services of protected areas, field teams, verifiers and data managers of institutions.
Two levels of requirements
| Level | What it is | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum standard | What the platform needs to use the data at all: coordinates, location ID, working dates, correct time, raw files | Always, whatever the design: ranger cameras, one-off surveys, own projects |
| Recommended protocol | The standardised design of the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) for its partner parks: grid, seasons, duration, camera settings | When abundance and trend indices must be comparable across parks and years |
The platform accepts data of both levels. Analysis according to the FZS methodology uses only data collected under the recommended protocol. Maps, species lists, daily activity and export work for all data.
Camera traps
- Why camera traps: the method in plain words.
- Camera-trap field methods: minimum standard, FZS protocols, settings, checklist.
- From memory card to the platform
- Verifying series
- Quality control of deployments
- Analysis and limits of inference
Acoustic monitoring
- Why listen to the forest: the method in plain words.
- PAM field methods: minimum standard and two approaches.
- Stationary recorders
- Common bird monitoring (FZS protocol)
- Verifying acoustic detections
General
Tip: these guides were prepared within the project "Developing a semi-automatic and publicly available biodiversity monitoring system for Ukrainian protected areas", supported by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU, AZ 30025/111-46). Comments and additions from parks are welcome and can be made directly on the pages.