Abstract

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.

Keywords

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

Published in

Polar Biology
2008, Volume: 31, number: 3, pages: 309-315
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Low, Matthew

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Australian Antarctic Division

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

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

Permanent link to this page (URI)

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