Experimental evaluation of a new ground-based survey method for estimating the density and abundance of nesting Adelie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae

Sammanfattning

A new ground-based technique for estimating the density of nesting Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) within occupied habitat is described and evaluated using an experimental approach with model penguins. In this set-up, an operator takes photos with a camera mounted on a 3-m pole at pre-determined sampling locations within habitat occupied by nesting penguins, and the actual boundaries of the plot in which penguin density is estimated are added post-survey. Density estimates are calculated by overlaying slope-specific templates delineating plot boundaries and distances of known dimensions onto the digital photos to allow a distance-sampling analysis to correct for any negative bias in counts arising from a proportion of penguins being obscured. Experimental assessment of biases in density estimates because of misclassification error was < 2% when compared to true density, indicating that this survey method is effective at accurately estimating penguin density and, therefore, abundance.

Nyckelord

Bechervaise island; CCAMLR; Antarctica; line transect; survey methodology; population estimation

Publicerad i

Polar Biology
2008, volym: 31, nummer: 3, sidor: 309-315
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Low, Matthew

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Australian Antarctic Division

UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0359-y

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/17538