Camera Trap Detection Rate

AUS-AIF-LVG-CTR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 70 to 100 Detections per 100 trap-nights
Thresholds: Lower: 20, Upper: 150
Optimal Range: 70 to 100
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Proposed Benchmark: A range of 70 - 100 Detections / 100 trap-nights for total native ground fauna (excluding feral species and correcting for hyper-abundant single species).

Metric Definition:

Camera Trap Detection Rate (CTR), expressed as the number of independent detection events per 100 trap-nights, used as an index of relative abundance of terrestrial fauna.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the range of camera trap detection rates indicating a vibrant and functioning native ground fauna community in arid grazing landscapes of Australia.

Justification:

This benchmark is synthesized from the best available large-scale camera trap study in a comparable Australian arid ecosystem and adjusted to represent an unbaited survey in a high-health grazing system. It assumes effective management of feral predators and total grazing pressure.

Sources (1)

Preview of Arid Recovery Annual Report
Arid Recovery Annual Report Journal

Relative impacts of cattle grazing and feral animals on an Australian ...

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 22 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: A rate <20 detections/100 trap-nights indicates a severely compromised ecosystem. Upper Detrimental Threshold: A rate >150 dominated by a single species or invasive species indicates ecological imbalance. CTR must be assessed alongside species richness and composition.