ABSTRACT The Whangamarino wetland in New Zealand is one of three nationally important sites managed under the Department of Conservation's Arawai Kākāriki programme. Reducing populations of introduced predatory mammals to levels that will allow the recovery of threatened wetland birds is a key objective of the programme. However, existing monitoring techniques designed for measuring small pest mammal abundances in other environments may not be appropriate for the Whangamarino wetland. Between 2010 and 2014 we tested simple camera trap indices of ferret (Mustela furo) and feral cat (Felis catus) relative abundances and PCR WaxTag bite mark indices of rat (Norway rat Rattus norvegicus and ship rat R. rattus) and house mice (Mus musculus) relative abundances by comparing them to live-trap indices of pest abundances in the Whangamarino wetland. We found that there were strong positive correlations between the camera trap indices and the associated live-trap indices of ferret abundances. There were modest, but significant positive correlations between camera trap indices and the associated live-trap indices of feral cat abundances. We also found that both 3-night and 7-night PCR WaxTag bite mark indices of rat or mouse abundances correlated strongly and positively with associated live-trap indices. We concluded that camera traps can be used to monitor ferret and feral cat abundances and PCR WaxTags can be used to monitor rodent abundances in the Whangamarino wetland and other environments.

中文翻译：

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旺加马里诺湿地野猫、雪貂和啮齿动物监测方法试验

摘要 新西兰的 Whangamarino 湿地是保护部的 Arawai Kākāriki 计划管理的三个国家级重要湿地之一。将引入的掠食性哺乳动物的数量减少到能够恢复受威胁的湿地鸟类的水平是该计划的一个关键目标。然而，用于测量其他环境中小型害虫哺乳动物丰度的现有监测技术可能不适用于旺加马里诺湿地。在 2010 年和 2014 年之间，我们测试了雪貂 (Mustela furo) 和野猫 (Felis catus) 相对丰度的简单相机陷阱指数和大鼠（挪威大鼠 Rattus norvegicus 和船鼠 R. rattus）和家鼠（Mus musculus) 相对丰度，通过将它们与 Whangamarino 湿地中害虫丰度的活陷阱指数进行比较。我们发现相机陷阱指数与雪貂丰度的相关活陷阱指数之间存在很强的正相关性。相机陷阱指数与野猫丰度的相关活体陷阱指数之间存在适度但显着的正相关。我们还发现，大鼠或小鼠丰度的 3 晚和 7 晚 PCR WaxTag 咬痕指数与相关的活陷阱指数呈强正相关。我们得出结论，相机陷阱可用于监测白鼬和野猫的丰度，而 PCR WaxTags 可用于监测旺加马里诺湿地和其他环境中的啮齿动物丰度。但相机陷阱指数与野猫丰度的相关活体陷阱指数之间存在显着的正相关。我们还发现，大鼠或小鼠丰度的 3 晚和 7 晚 PCR WaxTag 咬痕指数与相关的活陷阱指数呈强正相关。我们得出结论，相机陷阱可用于监测雪貂和野猫的丰度，而 PCR WaxTag 可用于监测旺加马里诺湿地和其他环境中的啮齿动物丰度。但相机陷阱指数与野猫丰度的相关活体陷阱指数之间存在显着的正相关。我们还发现，大鼠或小鼠丰度的 3 晚和 7 晚 PCR WaxTag 咬痕指数与相关的活陷阱指数呈强正相关。我们得出结论，相机陷阱可用于监测白鼬和野猫的丰度，而 PCR WaxTags 可用于监测旺加马里诺湿地和其他环境中的啮齿动物丰度。