Comparison of capture–recapture estimators of snowshoe hare populations

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1800-1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Boulanger ◽  
Charles J. Krebs

We used two island populations of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) in the Kluane Lake area of the Yukon Territory of Canada to evaluate capture – recapture estimators. These islands were intensively sampled, allowing us to enumerate the actual population size. Population size estimates were calculated using the programs CAPTURE and JOLLY, and estimators were compared for bias characteristics. Results from both islands suggest that the CAPTURE heterogeneity models Mh (jackknife), Mh (Chao), and Mth (time – heterogeneity) and the Jolly – Seber model were approximately unbiased. All other CAPTURE models displayed a negative bias. The CAPTURE model selection routine picked estimation models of different biases for each trapping period, an undesirable result. We conclude that it is best to use one robust estimator such as the Mh (jackknife) with snowshoe hare data.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abu Abdul-Quader

BACKGROUND Population size estimation of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam relied on the UNAIDS Estimation and Projection Package and reports from the city police department. The two estimates vary widely. OBJECTIVE To estimate the population size of people who inject drugs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam METHODS Using Respondent-driven sampling (RDS), we implemented two-source capture-recapture method to estimate the population size of PWID in HCMC in 2017 in 7 out of 24 districts. The study included men or women aged at least 18 years who reported injecting illicit drugs in the last 90 days and who had lived in the city the past six months. We calculated two sets of size estimates, the first assumed that all participants in each survey round resided in the district where the survey was conducted, the second, used the district of residence as reported by the participant. District estimates were summed to obtain an aggregate estimate for the seven districts. To calculate the city total, we weighted the population size estimates for each district by the inverse of the stratum specific sampling probabilities. RESULTS The first estimate resulted in a population size of 19,155 (95% CI: 17,006–25,039). The second one generated a smaller population size estimate of 12,867 (95% CI: 11,312–17,393). CONCLUSIONS The two-survey capture-recapture exercise provided two disparate estimates of PWID in HCMC. For planning HIV prevention and care service needs among PWID in HCMC, both estimates may need to be taken into consideration together with size estimates from other sources.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecile Vanpe ◽  
Blaise Piedallu ◽  
Pierre-Yves Quenette ◽  
Jerome Sentilles ◽  
Guillaume Queney ◽  
...  

Abundance of small populations of large mammals may be assessed using complete counts of the different individuals detected over a time period, so-called minimum detected size (MDS). However, as population is growing larger and its distribution is expanding wider, the risk of under-estimating population size using MDS is increasing sharply due to the rarely fulfilled assumption of perfect detection of all individuals of the population, and as a result, the need to report uncertainty in population size estimates becomes crucial. We addressed these issues within the framework of the monitoring of the critically endangered Pyrenean brown bear population that was on the edge of extinction in the mid-1990s with only five individuals remaining, but was reinforced by 11 bears originated from Slovenia since then. We used Pollock's closed robust design (PCRD) capture-recapture models applied to the cross-border non-invasive sampling data from France, Spain and Andorra to provide the first published annual abundance estimates of the Pyrenean brown bear population and its trends over time. Annual population size increased and displayed a fivefold rise between 2008 and 2020, reaching > 60 individuals in 2020. Detection heterogeneity among individuals may stem from intraspecific home range size disparities making it more likely to find signs of individuals who move more. We found a lower survival rate in cubs than in adults and subadults, since the formers suffer from more mortality risks (such as infanticides, predations, mother death or abandonments) than the latters. Our study provides evidence that the PCRD capture-recapture modelling approach can provide reliable estimates of the size of and trend in large mammal populations, while minimizing bias due to inter-individual heterogeneity in detection probabilities and allowing the quantification of sampling uncertainty surrounding these estimates. Such information is vital for informing management decision-making and assessing population conservation status.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne F. McIntyre ◽  
Ian E. Fellows ◽  
Steve Gutreuter ◽  
Wolfgang Hladik

BACKGROUND Capture-recapture is often used to estimate the size of populations at risk for HIV, including female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs. These population size estimates are critical in determining resource allocation for HIV services geared toward these communities. OBJECTIVE Compared to the commonly used two-source capture-recapture, capture-recapture relying on three (or more) samples can provide more robust PSE but involve far more complex statistical analysis. shinyrecap is designed to provide a user-friendly interface for the field epidemiologist. METHODS shinyrecap is built on the Shiny web application framework for R. This allows it to seamlessly integrate with the sophisticated CRC statistical packages. Additionally, the application may be accessed online or run locally on the user’s machine. RESULTS The application enables users to engage in sample size calculation based on a simulation framework. It assists in the proper formatting of collected data by providing a tool to convert commonly used formats to that used by analysis software. A wide variety of methodologies are supported by the analysis tool, including log-linear, Bayesian model averaging, and Bayesian latent class models. For each methodology, diagnostics and model checking interfaces are provided. CONCLUSIONS Through a use case, we demonstrate the broad utility of this powerful tool with three-source capture-recapture data to produce population size estimation for female sex workers in a subnational unit of a country in sub-Saharan Africa.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena H Doshi ◽  
Kevin Apodaca ◽  
Moses Ogwal ◽  
Rommel Bain ◽  
Ermias Amene ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Key populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), and female sex workers (FSW), are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Understanding the magnitude of, and informing the public health response to, the HIV epidemic among these populations requires accurate size estimates. However, low social visibility poses challenges to these efforts. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to derive population size estimates of PWID, MSM, and FSW in Kampala using capture-recapture. METHODS Between June and October 2017, unique objects were distributed to the PWID, MSM, and FSW populations in Kampala. PWID, MSM, and FSW were each sampled during 3 independent captures; unique objects were offered in captures 1 and 2. PWID, MSM, and FSW sampled during captures 2 and 3 were asked if they had received either or both of the distributed objects. All captures were completed 1 week apart. The numbers of PWID, MSM, and FSW receiving one or both objects were determined. Population size estimates were derived using the Lincoln-Petersen method for 2-source capture-recapture (PWID) and Bayesian nonparametric latent-class model for 3-source capture-recapture (MSM and FSW). RESULTS We sampled 467 PWID in capture 1 and 450 in capture 2; a total of 54 PWID were captured in both. We sampled 542, 574, and 598 MSM in captures 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were 70 recaptures between captures 1 and 2, 103 recaptures between captures 2 and 3, and 155 recaptures between captures 1 and 3. There were 57 MSM captured in all 3 captures. We sampled 962, 965, and 1417 FSW in captures 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were 316 recaptures between captures 1 and 2, 214 recaptures between captures 2 and 3, and 235 recaptures between captures 1 and 3. There were 109 FSW captured in all 3 rounds. The estimated number of PWID was 3892 (3090-5126), the estimated number of MSM was 14,019 (95% credible interval (CI) 4995-40,949), and the estimated number of FSW was 8848 (95% CI 6337-17,470). CONCLUSIONS Our population size estimates for PWID, MSM, and FSW in Kampala provide critical population denominator data to inform HIV prevention and treatment programs. The 3-source capture-recapture is a feasible method to advance key population size estimation.


1973 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. McLean ◽  
Alison M. Clarke ◽  
E. J. Goddard ◽  
A. S. Manes ◽  
C. A. Montalbetti ◽  
...  

SUMMARYSera from 218 of 1574 (14%) small mammals collected in the Yukon Territory between 14 May and 13 August 1972 neutralized a Yukon strain of California encephalitis virus (snowshoe-hare subtype). These included 133 of 319 (42%) snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), 84 of 1243 (7%) ground squirrels (Citellus undulatus) and 1 of 12 (8%) tree squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). California encephalitis virus (snow-shoe hare subtype) was isolated from four pools of unengorged Aedes communis mosquitoes collected near Whitehorse (61° N., 135° W.) and on one occasion each from pools of the same species collected at Hunker Creek (64° N., 138° W.) and at mile 125, Dempster Highway (66° N., 138° W.) during July 1972. Replication of a Yukon strain of California encephalitis virus was observed in wild-caught Culiseta inornata and Aedes canadensis mosquitoes after intrathoracic injection and holding at temperatures of 80°, 50° and 40° F.


10.2196/12118 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. e12118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena H Doshi ◽  
Kevin Apodaca ◽  
Moses Ogwal ◽  
Rommel Bain ◽  
Ermias Amene ◽  
...  

Background Key populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), and female sex workers (FSW), are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Understanding the magnitude of, and informing the public health response to, the HIV epidemic among these populations requires accurate size estimates. However, low social visibility poses challenges to these efforts. Objective The objective of this study was to derive population size estimates of PWID, MSM, and FSW in Kampala using capture-recapture. Methods Between June and October 2017, unique objects were distributed to the PWID, MSM, and FSW populations in Kampala. PWID, MSM, and FSW were each sampled during 3 independent captures; unique objects were offered in captures 1 and 2. PWID, MSM, and FSW sampled during captures 2 and 3 were asked if they had received either or both of the distributed objects. All captures were completed 1 week apart. The numbers of PWID, MSM, and FSW receiving one or both objects were determined. Population size estimates were derived using the Lincoln-Petersen method for 2-source capture-recapture (PWID) and Bayesian nonparametric latent-class model for 3-source capture-recapture (MSM and FSW). Results We sampled 467 PWID in capture 1 and 450 in capture 2; a total of 54 PWID were captured in both. We sampled 542, 574, and 598 MSM in captures 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were 70 recaptures between captures 1 and 2, 103 recaptures between captures 2 and 3, and 155 recaptures between captures 1 and 3. There were 57 MSM captured in all 3 captures. We sampled 962, 965, and 1417 FSW in captures 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were 316 recaptures between captures 1 and 2, 214 recaptures between captures 2 and 3, and 235 recaptures between captures 1 and 3. There were 109 FSW captured in all 3 rounds. The estimated number of PWID was 3892 (3090-5126), the estimated number of MSM was 14,019 (95% credible interval (CI) 4995-40,949), and the estimated number of FSW was 8848 (95% CI 6337-17,470). Conclusions Our population size estimates for PWID, MSM, and FSW in Kampala provide critical population denominator data to inform HIV prevention and treatment programs. The 3-source capture-recapture is a feasible method to advance key population size estimation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne F. McIntyre ◽  
Andrew Mitchell ◽  
Kristen A. Stafford ◽  
Samuel U. Nwafor ◽  
Julia Lo ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Nigeria has the fourth largest burden of HIV globally. Key populations (KP) including female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and people who inject drugs (PWID) often have poor social visibility and are more vulnerable to HIV than the general population due to stigma, discrimination, and criminalization of KP-defining behaviors. Reliable, empirical population size estimates (PSE) are needed to guide focused and appropriately scaled HIV epidemic response efforts for KP. We used novel approaches to sampling and analysis to calculate PSE in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE We sampled the population using three-source capture-recapture (3S-CRC) and analyzed results using Bayesian nonparametric latent-class models to generate median PSE with 80% highest density intervals. METHODS During October–December 2018, we used three-source capture-recapture (3S-CRC) to estimate the size of KP in seven United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) priority states in Nigeria. Hotspots were mapped before 3S-CRC started. We sampled FSW, MSM, and PWID during three independent captures approximately one week apart. During encounters in KP hotspots, distributors offered inexpensive and memorable objects to KP, unique to each capture round and KP type. In subsequent rounds, participants were offered an object and asked to produce or identify objects received during previous rounds (if any); affirmative responses were tallied upon producing or identifying the correct object. Distributors recorded responses on tablets and uploaded to a secure server after each encounter. Data were aggregated by KP and state for analysis. Median PSE were derived using Bayesian nonparametric latent-class models with 80% highest density intervals for precision. RESULTS We sampled approximately 310,000 persons at 9,015 hotspots during three independent captures in all seven states. Overall, FSW PSE ranged from 14,500-64,300; MSM PSE, 3,200-41,400; and PWID PSE, 3,400-30,400. CONCLUSIONS This study represents the first implementation of these 3S-CRC sampling and novel analysis methods for large-scale population size estimation in Nigeria. Overall, our estimates were larger than previously documented for each KP in all states. The current Bayesian models account for factors (i.e., social visibility and stigma) that influence heterogeneous capture probabilities resulting in more reliable PSE. The larger estimates suggest a need for programmatic scale-up to reach these populations at highest risk for HIV.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3319
Author(s):  
Chulin Pan ◽  
Huayi Wang ◽  
Hongpeng Guo ◽  
Hong Pan

This study focuses on the impact of population structure changes on carbon emissions in China from 1995 to 2018. This paper constructs the multiple regression model and uses the ridge regression to analyze the relationship between population structure changes and carbon emissions from four aspects: population size, population age structure, population consumption structure, and population employment structure. The results showed that these four variables all had a significant impact on carbon emissions in China. The ridge regression analysis confirmed that the population size, population age structure, and population employment structure promoted the increase in carbon emissions, and their contribution ratios were 3.316%, 2.468%, 1.280%, respectively. However, the influence of population consumption structure (−0.667%) on carbon emissions was negative. The results showed that the population size had the greatest impact on carbon emissions, which was the main driving factor of carbon emissions in China. Chinese population will bring huge pressure on the environment and resources in the future. Therefore, based on the comprehensive analysis, implementing the one-child policy will help slow down China’s population growth, control the number of populations, optimize the population structure, so as to reduce carbon emissions. In terms of employment structure and consumption structure, we should strengthen policy guidance and market incentives, raising people’s low-carbon awareness, optimizing energy-consumption structure, improving energy efficiency, so as to effectively control China’s carbon emissions.


2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank AM Tuyttens

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.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. e76213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Capderrey ◽  
Bernard Kaufmann ◽  
Pauline Jean ◽  
Florian Malard ◽  
Lara Konecny-Dupré ◽  
...  

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