scholarly journals Overcoming the challenges of measuring the abundance of a cryptic macropod: is a qualitative approach good enough?

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlene Bain ◽  
Adrian Wayne ◽  
Roberta Bencini
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Population Abundance ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Survey Technique ◽  
Threatened Taxa ◽  
Activity Indices

Context An understanding of population size and status is necessary for the implementation of appropriate conservation measures to recover threatened taxa. Mark–recapture studies at large spatial scales are impractical and expensive and a rapid survey technique is an attractive option to provide a measure of relative abundance for cryptic species, using indicators of activity. Aims The aim of our study was to use conventional methods for population estimation to calibrate a rapid survey technique for the quokka (Setonix brachyurus) in the southern forests of Western Australia, with a view to providing quantitative outcomes from this widely adopted monitoring approach. Methods We evaluated the accuracy of relative abundances obtained from the rapid survey technique by comparing them with abundance estimates obtained through established methods for the estimation of populations, including web-based mark–recapture and transect-based counts of activity indicators and sightings. Key results The rapid survey technique was effective at determining presence of quokkas but resulted in an over-estimation of population size because of inaccurate assumptions about occupancy and relative abundance of animals. An alternative survey method based on counts of fresh faecal-pellet groups was found to provide a more reliable and practical estimation of population abundance (R2 = 0.97). Conclusions Activity indices can be used to quantify population abundance, but only for indicators of activity that can be detected readily and for which freshness of activity can be determined. Implications Our findings suggest that a rapid survey based on activity indices can be used to evaluate quantitatively the population size of a species that is rare and potentially mobile at a landscape scale. The attraction of these techniques is that they provide a rapid and inexpensive survey option that is potentially applicable to any cryptic and/or threatened species and is practical for resource-constrained land managers.

scholarly journals Identifying unknown Indian wolves by their distinctive howls: its potential as a non-invasive survey method

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sougata Sadhukhan ◽  
Holly Root-Gutteridge ◽  
Bilal Habib
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Identification Accuracy ◽  
Individual Identification ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Reliable Estimate ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Test Dataset ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Supervised Classification Methods

AbstractPrevious studies have posited the use of acoustics-based surveys to monitor population size and estimate their density. However, decreasing the bias in population estimations, such as by using Capture–Mark–Recapture, requires the identification of individuals using supervised classification methods, especially for sparsely populated species like the wolf which may otherwise be counted repeatedly. The cryptic behaviour of Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) poses serious challenges to survey efforts, and thus, there is no reliable estimate of their population despite a prominent role in the ecosystem. Like other wolves, Indian wolves produce howls that can be detected over distances of more than 6 km, making them ideal candidates for acoustic surveys. Here, we explore the use of a supervised classifier to identify unknown individuals. We trained a supervised Agglomerative Nesting hierarchical clustering (AGNES) model using 49 howls from five Indian wolves and achieved 98% individual identification accuracy. We tested our model’s predictive power using 20 novel howls from a further four individuals (test dataset) and resulted in 75% accuracy in classifying howls to individuals. The model can reduce bias in population estimations using Capture-Mark-Recapture and track individual wolves non-invasively by their howls. This has potential for studies of wolves’ territory use, pack composition, and reproductive behaviour. Our method can potentially be adapted for other species with individually distinctive vocalisations, representing an advanced tool for individual-level monitoring.

The closed-subpopulation method and estimation of population size from mark-recapture and ancillary data

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank AM Tuyttens
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Population Size Estimates ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Flexible Framework ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Better Than

The algebraic relationships, underlying assumptions, and performance of the recently proposed closed-subpopulation method are compared with those of other commonly used methods for estimating the size of animal populations from mark-recapture records. In its basic format the closed-subpopulation method is similar to the Manly-Parr method and less restrictive than the Jolly-Seber method. Computer simulations indicate that the accuracy and precision of the population estimators generated by the basic closed-subpopulation method are almost comparable to those generated by the Jolly-Seber method, and generally better than those of the minimum-number-alive method. The performance of all these methods depends on the capture probability, the number of previous and subsequent trapping occasions, and whether the population is demographically closed or open. Violation of the assumption of equal catchability causes a negative bias that is more pronounced for the closed-subpopulation and Jolly-Seber estimators than for the minimum-number-alive. The closed-subpopulation method provides a simple and flexible framework for illustrating that the precision and accuracy of population-size estimates can be improved by incorporating evidence, other than mark-recapture data, of the presence of recognisable individuals in the population (from radiotelemetry, mortality records, or sightings, for example) and by exploiting specific characteristics of the population concerned.

scholarly journals Factors affecting relative abundance of low-mobility fishing resources: spiny lobster in the Galapagos Marine Reserve

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Murillo-Posada ◽  
Silvia Salas ◽  
Iván Velázquez-Abunader
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring System ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
Galapagos Marine Reserve

Management of low-mobility or benthic fisheries is a difficult task because variation in the spatial distribution and population dynamics of the resources make the monitoring and assessment of these fisheries challenging. We assumed that environmental, spatial, and temporal factors can contribute to the variability of the relative abundance of such species; we used Generalized Additive Models for Location Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) to test this hypothesis using as a case study the lobster fishery (targeting two species) in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador. We gathered data on each of the two species of lobster on a monthly basis over seven years, including: (a) onboard observers’ records of catch data, fishing effort, and ground location by trip, and (b) data from interviews undertaken with fishers at their arrival to port, recording the same type of information as obtained from onboard observers. We use this information to analyze the effect of the measured variables and to standardize the Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) in each case, using the GAMLSS. For both species, the temperature, region, fishing schedule, month, distance, and the monitoring system were significant variables of the selected models associated with the variability of the catch rate. ForPanulirus penicillatus, CPUE was higher at night than during the day, and forPanulirus gracilisit was higher during the day. Increased temperature resulted in a decrease of CPUE values. It was evident that temporal, spatial scales and monitoring system can influence the variability of this indicator. We contend that the identification of drivers of change of relative abundance in low-mobility species can help to support the development of monitoring and assessment programs for this type of fisheries.

Survey data—randomized response

2019 ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Steve Selvin
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Randomized Response ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Survey Technique

A survey method that absolutely guarantees confidentiality is called a randomization survey technique. The application of this clever statistical tool is easily understood and implemented. The process yields interview responses that allow analysis, to repeat, with absolute confidentiality.

scholarly journals Validation of close‐kin mark–recapture (CKMR) methods for estimating population abundance

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1445-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Ruzzante ◽  
Gregory R. McCracken ◽  
Brage Førland ◽  
John MacMillan ◽  
Daniela Notte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Abundance ◽  
Mark Recapture

scholarly journals Genetic mark‐recapture analysis of winter faecal pellets allows estimation of population size in Sage Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus

Ibis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 162 (3) ◽  
pp. 749-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Shyvers ◽  
Brett L. Walker ◽  
Sara J. Oyler‐McCance ◽  
Jennifer A. Fike ◽  
Barry R. Noon
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Centrocercus Urophasianus ◽  
Sage Grouse ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Faecal Pellets
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