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Comparative efficacy of spoor surveys, spotlighting and audio playbacks in a landscape-scale carnivore survey

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posted on 2023-05-17, 04:52 authored by Thorn, M, Green, M, Bateman, PW, Elissa Cameron, Yarnell, RW, Scott, DM
Many carnivores are difficult and labour-intensive to detect, often leading to prohibitively high effort and cost in large-scale surveys. However, such studies provide Information that is Important for effective management and conservation. Here, we evaluate the suitability of three survey methods for landscape-scale multi-species monitoring. We compare sign surveys, spotlighting, and audio playbacks in terms of detection efficiency, precision, effort, and cost. Sign surveys out-performed the other methods in all comparison criteria, although supplementary methods were needed for some species and sites. We found that using established analysis techniques, robust landscape-scale abundance estimates would require unrealistically high effort and cost. Occupancy estimation required considerably lower sample sizes and was therefore more economical. We conclude that sign-based occupancy estimates constitute a versatile and efficient option for future large-scale, multi-species carnivore surveys.

History

Publication title

South African Journal of Wildlife Research

Volume

40

Pagination

77-86

ISSN

0379-4369

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Southern African Wildlife Management Assoc

Place of publication

P O Box 217, Bloubergstrand, South Africa, 7437

Rights statement

Copyright © 2010 Southern African Wildlife Management Association (SAWMA)

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Terrestrial biodiversity

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