This naturally rare and poorly known species is endemic to South America and classified as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN. The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is the largest living armadillo. Although researchers should be aware of the small biases that can emerge from some of the methods, the general similarities among patterns indicate that researchers can choose among the ever‐increasing number of animal monitoring technologies to study elusive species depending on their research question and constraints.
However, the camera trap array provided a later activity onset and peak estimates when compared to other methods. Estimates of activity timing provided by the three methods were relatively similar and pointed to a nocturnal activity pattern. Activity duration estimates showed significant variation among monitoring methods but were generally short. We used GPS tagging, accelerometers, and camera traps to characterize activity timing, duration, onset, and termination times. We evaluated the performance of four methods applied simultaneously on a single population to detect and characterize the activity behavior of an elusive species, using the giant armadillo Priodontes maximus as a model. Although researchers should be aware of the small biases that can emerge from some of the methods, the general similarities among patterns indicates that researchers can choose among the ever‐increasing number of animal monitoring technologies depending on their research question and constraints. The species spends 75–80% of its time underground and accelerometer data shows that armadillos are not active and do not feed while underground, pointing to a fossorial behavior for the species. However, the camera trap array provided a later activity onset and peak estimates for the species when compared to other methods. Armadillos left their burrows mainly in the first hours after sunset, and terminated their activity mainly between midnight and 4 am. Overall, the estimates of activity timing provided by the methods used were relatively similar (>75% Δ4 overlap) and pointed to a nocturnal activity pattern.
Activity duration estimates showed significant variation among monitoring methods but were generally short (4.5–6 h on average).
We gathered data from 53 armadillos during 9 years in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. Circular kernel probability density functions were used to characterize activity patterns with each data set and the overlap coefficient Δ4 was used to characterize the similarity between them. GPS tagging, accelerometer, and camera trap array data were used to characterize general activity patterns, while camera traps placed in front of burrows in use were used to define activity duration, onset, and termination times. Here, we evaluate the performance of four methods applied simultaneously on a single population to detect and characterize the activity behavior of elusive species, using the giant armadillo Priodontes maximus as a model. The behavioral study of elusive species, which often cannot be directly observed in the wild, is based on the use of animal monitoring technologies. With few or no records at other study locations, La Fidelidad may harbor one of the few relict populations of giant armadillos in the Argentine Chaco. The population status of giant armadillos in Argentina is a matter of concern. Camera trap records indicate that giant armadillos in the Argentine Chaco are strongly nocturnal. We did not record giant armadillos near the edges of La Fidelidad, nor in the two locations with greater human disturbance.
At Copo and La Fidelidad we estimated relative abundance at 0.08 and 0.40 records per 100 camera days, respectively. At the Aborigen Reserve we documented burrows and tracks but obtained no photographs. We only recorded the species at three locations: Copo National Park, Aborigen Reserve and La Fidelidad Resource Reserve. We used camera trap records to determine presence, relative abundance (records / 100 camera days) and activity patterns. Between June 2006 and January 2014, we completed 10 surveys, using camera trap and / or track plots, searches for burrows and tracks, and observations by local people and park rangers. Our objectives were to evaluate the species’ presence, relative abundance, and temporal activity patterns across five locations with different levels of human disturbance and legal protection in the Argentine Chaco. No systematic population studies have been undertaken to date in Argentina. The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is a difficult species to study because of low population densities, combined with nocturnal and fossorial habits.
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