FILLING IN THE GAPS: EVALUATING THE USE OF CAMERA TRAPS IN THE CANOPY TO EXAMINE FRUGIVORE VISITS TO OREOPANAX ECHINOPS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF GUATEMALA

Studies that examine frugivore assemblages have traditionally relied on focal tree observations. However, this method presents disadvantages in that few tree individuals can be monitored simultaneously and not for periods of 24 hours per day. We deployed camera traps in the canopy of Oreopanax echinops trees to evaluate the method's potential use in frugivory studies. We detected 12 frugivore-omnivore species at monitored trees. We recorded two nocturnal species (Potos flavus and an unidentified rodent) that would have been overlooked in a focal tree study and two threatened bird species (Oreophasis derbianus and Penelopina nigra) that feed regularly on O. echinops fruits. Our study shows that camera trapping in the canopy can increase the number of frugivores identified as well as those that may not be detected in a traditional focal tree observation study.