TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimating wildlife population trends
T2 - the case of the Helmeted Honeyeater
AU - HONE, Jim
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Assessing trends in wildlife populations involves estimating whether those populations are stable, increasing or decreasing, and trends can infer the success or failure of management. This paper determines trends in a population of critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeaters (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) in Victoria, Australia, using a range of estimation procedures. Analyses of breeding pairs data show the population of Helmeted Honeyeaters increased, with an annual finite growth rate () of 1.07 (95% confidence intervals 1.02-1.12), over 8 years (1989-90 to 1996-97) then decreased over 12 years (1997-98 to 2008-09) with of 0.94 (95% CI 0.91-0.96). Demographic analysis estimated that during the first 8 years was 1.21 (95% CI 1.01-1.40), which overlapped the estimate of from breeding pairs data but was less precise. There were no demographic data for the later period of 12 years. The number of breeding pairs in 1 year was positively, although only weakly (R2≤0.23), and significantly (P≤0.03) related to annual rainfall 2 years prior. Wildlife management, such as that of Helmeted Honeyeaters, needs ongoing, quantitative assessment of trends involving measures such as , with associated 95% CI.
AB - Assessing trends in wildlife populations involves estimating whether those populations are stable, increasing or decreasing, and trends can infer the success or failure of management. This paper determines trends in a population of critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeaters (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) in Victoria, Australia, using a range of estimation procedures. Analyses of breeding pairs data show the population of Helmeted Honeyeaters increased, with an annual finite growth rate () of 1.07 (95% confidence intervals 1.02-1.12), over 8 years (1989-90 to 1996-97) then decreased over 12 years (1997-98 to 2008-09) with of 0.94 (95% CI 0.91-0.96). Demographic analysis estimated that during the first 8 years was 1.21 (95% CI 1.01-1.40), which overlapped the estimate of from breeding pairs data but was less precise. There were no demographic data for the later period of 12 years. The number of breeding pairs in 1 year was positively, although only weakly (R2≤0.23), and significantly (P≤0.03) related to annual rainfall 2 years prior. Wildlife management, such as that of Helmeted Honeyeaters, needs ongoing, quantitative assessment of trends involving measures such as , with associated 95% CI.
KW - conservation
KW - endangered subspecies
KW - finite growth rate
KW - monitoring
KW - population growth rate
KW - trends in abundance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84905750273&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/estimating-wildlife-population-trends-case-helmeted-honeyeater
U2 - 10.1071/MU13056
DO - 10.1071/MU13056
M3 - Article
SN - 0158-4197
VL - 114
SP - 191
EP - 196
JO - Emu: austral ornithology
JF - Emu: austral ornithology
IS - 3
ER -