Estimation of demographic parameters in a tiger population from long-term camera trap data

By:  and 
Edited by: Allan F. O'ConnellJames D. Nichols, and K. Ullas Karanth

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Abstract

Chapter 7 (Karanth et al.) illustrated the use of camera trapping in combination with closed population capture–recapture (CR) models to estimate densities of tigers Panthera tigris. Such estimates can be very useful for investigating variation across space for a particular species (e.g., Karanth et al. 2004) or variation among species at a specific location. In addition, estimates of density continued at the same site(s) over multiple years are very useful for understanding and managing populations of large carnivores. Such multi-year studies can yield estimates of rates of change in abundance. Additionally, because the fates of marked individuals are tracked through time, biologists can delve deeper into factors driving changes in abundance such as rates of survival, recruitment and movement (Williams et al. 2002). Fortunately, modern CR approaches permit the modeling of populations that change between sampling occasions as a result of births, deaths, immigration and emigration (Pollock et al. 1990; Nichols 1992). Some of these early “open population” models focused on estimation of survival rates and, to a lesser extent, abundance, but more recent models permit estimation of recruitment and movement rates as well.

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Estimation of demographic parameters in a tiger population from long-term camera trap data
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-99495-4_9
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 17 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Camera traps in animal ecology
First page 145
Last page 161
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