Comparing the precision and cost-effectiveness of faecal pellet group count methods

Journal of Applied Ecology

Volumn 41, Issue 6, 2004, Pages 1185-1196

  Campbell, D ^a   Swanson, G M ^a   Sales, J ^b  

^a Strath Caulaidh Ltd   (United Kingdom)

^b BIOMATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS SCOTLAND   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Deer management; Dung counts; Estimating abundance; Optimal sample allocation; Sampling costs; Woodlands

Indexed keywords

ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION; COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS; DEER; FECAL PELLET; SAMPLING; WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT;

ANIMALIA; CERVIDAE;

EID: 11144350329     PISSN: 00218901     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.0021-8901.2004.00964.x     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. Bailey, R.E., Putman, R. & J. (1981) Estimation of fallow deer (Dama dama) populations from faecal accumulation. Journal of Applied Ecology, 18, 697-702.
2. Barnes, R.F.W. (2002) The problem of precision and trend detection posed by small elephant populations in West Africa. African Journal of Ecology, 40, 179-185.
3. Barnes, R.F.W., Asamoah-Boateng, B., Naada Majam, J. & Agyei-Ohemeng, J. (1997) Rainfall and the population dynamics of elephant dung-piles in the forests of southern Ghana. African Journal of Ecology, 35, 39-52.
4. Barnes, R.F.W., Blom, A., Alers, M.P.T. & Barnes, K.L. (1995) An estimate of the numbers of forest elephants in Gabon. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 11, 27-37.
5. Buckland, S.T. (1992) Review of Deer Count Methodology. Unpublished report to the Scottish Office. Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Edinburgh, UK.
6. Burnham, K.P., Anderson, D.R. & Laake, J.L. (1985) Efficiency and bias in strip and line transect sampling. Journal of Wildlife Management, 49, 1012-1018.
7. Caughley, G. & Sinclair, R.E. (1994) Wildlife Ecology and Management. Blackewll Scientific Publications, London, UK.
8. Laing, S.E., Buckland, S.T., Burns, R.W., Lambie, D. & Amphlett, A. (2003) Dung and nest surveys: estimating decay rates. Journal of Applied Ecology, 40, 1102-1111.
9. McClanahan, T.R. (1985) Quick population survey method using faecal droppings and a steady state assumption. African Journal of Ecology, 24, 37-39.
10. Marques, F.F.C., Buckland, S.T., Goffin, D., Dixon, C.E., Borchers, D.L., Mayle, B.A. & Peace, A.J. (2001) Estimating deer abundance from line transect surveys of dung: sika deer in southern Scotland. Journal of Applied Ecology, 38, 349-363.
11. Mayle, B.A. (1996) Progress in predictive management of deer populations in British woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management, 88, 187-198.
12. Mitchell, B. & McCowan, D. (1979) Estimating and Comparing Population Densities of Red Deer Cervus elaphus L. in Concealing Habitats. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Cambridge, UK.
13. Mitchell, B. & McCowan, D. (1984) The Defecation Frequencies of Red Deer in Different Habitats. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Cambridge, UK.
14. Mitchell, B., Rowe, J.J., Ratcliffe, P.R. & Hinge, M. (1985) Defecation frequency in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in relation to the accumulation rates of faecal deposits. Journal of Zoology; London, 207, 1-7.
15. Nchanji, A.C. & Plumptre, A.J. (2001) Seasonality in elephant dung decay and implications for censusing and population monitoring in south-western Cameroon. African Journal of Ecology, 39, 24-32.
16. Neff, D.J. (1968) The pellet-group count technique for big game trend, census, and distribution: a review. Journal of Wildlife Management, 32, 597-614.
17. Plumptre, A.J. (2000) Monitoring mammal populations with line transect techniques in African forests. Journal of Applied Ecology, 37, 356-368.
18. Plumptre, A.J. & Harris, S. (1995) Estimating the biomass of large mammalian herbivores in a tropical montane forest: a method of faecal counting that avoids assuming a 'steady state' system. Journal of Applied Ecology, 32, 111-120.
19. Putman, R. & J. (1984) Facts from faeces. Mammal Review, 14, 79-97.
20. Ratcliffe, P.R. (1987a) The management of red deer in the commercial forests of Scotland related to population dynamics and habitat changes. PhD Thesis. University of London, London, UK.
21. Ratcliffe, P.R. (1987b) The Management of Red Deer in Upland Forests. HMSO, London, UK.
22. Ratcliffe, P.R. (1992) Roe Deer Biology and Management. HMSO, London, UK.
23. Smart, J.C.R., Ward, A.I. & White, R.C.L. (2004) Monitoring woodland deer populations in the UK: an imprecise science. Mammal Review, 34, 99-114.
24. Staines, B.W. & Ratcliffe, P.R. (1987) Estimating the abundance of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and their current status in Great Britain. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London, 58, 131-152.
25. Webbon, C., Baker, P.J. & Harris, S. (2004) Faecal density counts for monitoring changes in red fox numbers in rural Britain. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41, 768-779.
26. Welch, D., Staines, B.W., Catt, D.C. & Scott, D. (1990) Habitat usage by red (Cervus elaphus) and roe (Capreolus capreolus) deer in a Scottish Sitka spruce plantation. Journal of Zoology, London, 221, 453-476.