Camera Trap Detection Rate

AUS-TSR-FOR-CTR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

14.6 Detections per 100 trap-nights
Range: 15 to — Detections per 100 trap-nights
Optimal Range: 15 to —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

However, the more ecologically significant benchmark for a healthy system is the Native Fauna Detection Rate, which is 14.6 detections per 100 trap-nights.

Metric Definition:

Camera Trap Detection Rate (CTR), typically expressed as the number of independent detection events per 100 trap-nights, serves as a widely used index of relative abundance and activity.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the reference value for Native Fauna Detection Rate in production forestry within the Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests biome of Australia, indicating the number of independent detection events per 100 trap-nights as an index of native fauna activity.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from camera trap data (1451 trap-nights) at Tumoulin State Forest, the best available proxy for a well-managed production forest in the Australian Wet Tropics.

Sources (1)

Preview of (PDF) Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the Australian Wet Tropics - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
(PDF) Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the Australian Wet Tropics - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025, Journal

(PDF) Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the Australian Wet Tropics - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Range‐Wide Camera Trapping for the Australian Cassowary ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
(PDF) Range‐Wide Camera Trapping for the Australian Cassowary ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Range‐Wide Camera Trapping for the Australian Cassowary ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of accessed January 1, 1970, https
accessed January 1, 1970, https
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

accessed January 1, 1970, https

View Source
Preview of CAMERA-TRAPPING PAGE 1 - WWF, accessed July 20, 2025,
CAMERA-TRAPPING PAGE 1 - WWF, accessed July 20, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

CAMERA-TRAPPING PAGE 1 - WWF

View Source
Preview of Certification - Forestry Corporation, accessed July 20, 2025,
Certification - Forestry Corporation, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Forest Management Certification | Forest Stewardship Council, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Comparative study on mammalian fauna in different harvesting intensities with reduced-impact and conventional logging in Sabah, - Tangkulap, accessed July 20, 2025,
Comparative study on mammalian fauna in different harvesting intensities with reduced-impact and conventional logging in Sabah, - Tangkulap, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Comparative study on mammalian fauna in different harvesting intensities with reduced-impact and conventional logging in Sabah, - Tangkulap, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Determining the efficacy of camera traps, live capture traps, and detection dogs for locating cryptic small mammal species - PubMed Central, accessed July 20, 2025,
Determining the efficacy of camera traps, live capture traps, and detection dogs for locating cryptic small mammal species - PubMed Central, accessed July 20, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Determining the efficacy of camera traps, live capture traps, and detection dogs for locating cryptic small mammal species - PubMed Central, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ecological Integrity Assessment | NatureServe, accessed July 20, 2025,
Ecological Integrity Assessment | NatureServe, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Ecological Integrity Assessment | NatureServe, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ecological Integrity Assessment Guide - Number Analytics, accessed July 20, 2025,
Ecological Integrity Assessment Guide - Number Analytics, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecological Integrity Assessment Guide - Number Analytics, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem Services - Forest Stewardship Council, accessed July 20, 2025,
Ecosystem Services - Forest Stewardship Council, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem Services - Forest Stewardship Council, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia, accessed May 15, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Large-scale and long-term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Large-scale and long-term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

progress report of the woylie conservation research project - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the Australian Wet Tropics, accessed July 20, 2025,
Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the Australian Wet Tropics, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the Australian Wet Tropics, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Logging for the ark, accessed July 20, 2025,
Logging for the ark, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Logging for the ark, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Selecting Indicator Species to Monitor Ecological Integrity: A Review - INCREAte Project, accessed July 20, 2025,
Selecting Indicator Species to Monitor Ecological Integrity: A Review - INCREAte Project, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Selecting Indicator Species to Monitor Ecological Integrity: A Review - INCREAte Project, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Selecting Indicator Species to Monitor Ecological Integrity: A Review - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Selecting Indicator Species to Monitor Ecological Integrity: A Review - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Selecting Indicator Species to Monitor Ecological Integrity: A Review - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Site occupancy of select mammals in the tropical forest of Eastern Himalaya - Frontiers, accessed July 20, 2025,
Site occupancy of select mammals in the tropical forest of Eastern Himalaya - Frontiers, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Site occupancy of select mammals in the tropical forest of Eastern Himalaya - Frontiers, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Snap happy: camera traps are an effective sampling tool when compared with alternative methods - PubMed Central, accessed July 20, 2025,
Snap happy: camera traps are an effective sampling tool when compared with alternative methods - PubMed Central, accessed July 20, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Use threshold-based adaptive management: Incorporate ecological thresholds to guide coastal protection and restoration | Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Snap happy: camera traps are an effective sampling tool when compared with alternative methods | Royal Society Open Science - Journals, accessed July 20, 2025,
Snap happy: camera traps are an effective sampling tool when compared with alternative methods | Royal Society Open Science - Journals, accessed July 20, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Some established feral animals | Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 20, 2025,
Some established feral animals | Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Some established feral animals | Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The pitfalls of wildlife camera trapping as a survey tool in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
The pitfalls of wildlife camera trapping as a survey tool in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

The history of wildlife camera trapping as a survey tool in Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Unleashing Power of Camera Trap Data to Monitor Australian Wildlife | ARDC, accessed July 20, 2025,
Unleashing Power of Camera Trap Data to Monitor Australian Wildlife | ARDC, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Unleashing Power of Camera Trap Data to Monitor Australian Wildlife | ARDC, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Wet Tropics of Queensland - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 22, 2025,
Wet Tropics of Queensland - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Wet Tropics of Queensland - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Wet Tropics of Queensland | World Heritage Outlook - IUCN, accessed July 20, 2025,
Wet Tropics of Queensland | World Heritage Outlook - IUCN, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Wet Tropics of Queensland | World Heritage Outlook - IUCN

View Source
Preview of Wildlife Monitoring in Managed Forests: Adapting for Conservation - SciTechnol, accessed July 20, 2025,
Wildlife Monitoring in Managed Forests: Adapting for Conservation - SciTechnol, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Wildlife Monitoring in Managed Forests: Adapting for Conservation - SciTechnol, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of WildObs | TERN Australia, accessed July 20, 2025,
WildObs | TERN Australia, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support

WildObs | TERN Australia

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 2
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The more ecologically relevant benchmark for native fauna is 14.6 detections/100 trap-nights. Functional Range: The literature does not support simple numerical thresholds. Instead, a compositional approach is required. Optimal Range: Characterized by a high native CTR (>15), high species richness, the presence of sensitive species, and a very low invasive-to-native detection ratio (<0.1).

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-FOR-CTR family.

14.6 Detections per 100 trap-nights Moderate
Production Forestry · Production Forestry · Forest
Point Superseded v1
17 Detections per 100 trap-nights Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v1