Predator-Prey Interactions of Arboreal Rodents from 3-Year Camera Trap Study

A 3-year study monitored the response of red tree voles and their predators at 598 nest platforms across 23 young forest sites. Data was gathered using annual inspections and 168 remote cameras, revealing a 2.9 to 9.2-fold increase in vole use and quantifying predator-induced mortality and non-lethal effects. The dataset was produced by Mark A. Linnell of the Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Use Cases

• Modeling population survival rates based on apparent annual survival estimates for male and female tree voles.
• Analyzing predator-prey temporal correlations based on the varying effect sizes observed at different time-bin widths (hour vs day).
• Studying non-lethal predator effects based on the >10-fold reduction in tree vole detections observed after weasel detection.
• Comparing hunting strategies of predators based on the mortality rates of active-seeking weasels versus ambush-predator owls.

Strengths

• Multi-year temporal coverage from a 3-year study.
• Combines two data collection methods: annual inspections of 598 nest platforms and remote camera data from 168 units.
• Includes quantified survival estimates with standard errors (e.g., 0.099 ± 0.057 for females).
• Reports specific fold-increases in animal use (e.g., 2.9 to 9.2-fold increase in red tree vole use).

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Collection Method

Data gathered via annual inspections and remote camera monitoring at artificial nest platforms.

Time Range

3-year study period

Geography

23 young forest sites (likely Pacific Northwest region, inferred from author affiliation)