CAMERA TRAPPING MARTENS IN TWO DIFFERENT MOUNTAINS – EFFECT OF THE LURE
ELITSA POPOVA1*, DIANA ZLATANOVA1, MAYA PARASKOVA1, PETAR PETROV1, NIKOLA DOYKIN2
1Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 “Dragan Tsankov” blvd., Sofia 1164 Bulgaria
2Nature Park “Vitosha”, 17 "Antim I" str., 1303 Sofia, Bulgaria
*Corresponding author: elitsa.popova@uni-sofia.bg
Keywords: Martes martes; Martes foina; Vitosha Mountain; Rhodope Mountain; Bulgaria
Abstract: Stone marten (Martes foina) and pine marten (Martes martes) are two sympatric European species which overlap their distribution and inhabit similar habitats in the Bulgarian mountains. The study of their interactions, in sense of interspecific competition, is difficult due to their similar external appearance and similar tracks and signs of their presence. Camera trapping provides valuable data on the species‘ presence and behaviour, but a lure is often used to intensify the data collection. During April-November 2019 equal numbers of camera traps (n=10) were set in two mountains in Western Bulgaria with different habitats – Vitosha and Rhodope with three different methodological approaches: 1. Without lure; 2. Applying valeriana lure with attenuating effect for a month (two times for Rhodope and once for Vitosha); 3. Intensive luring session for 7 days. The camera traps in Rhodope Mtn recorded two times more martens (n=119) than those in Vitosha (n=63). Both locations yielded a significant number of non-identifiable martens (n=52 for Vitosha and n=87 for Rhodope). The stone marten was the more registered species, which is in agreement with the presumption that it is widespread and abundant in Bulgaria. Both species (and the unidentified martens) were more frequently registered in coniferous forests in Vitosha and in mixed forests in Rhodope, which reflects their adaptability to various habitat compositions. The Valeriana lure, despite being widely used as an attractant in many studies, actually had a negative effect on the registrations of martens in our study area. However, the martens reacted more intensively when the lure was applied for the first time, in comparison to subsequent luring, i.e. they showed signs of habituation.