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Using a general index approach to analyze camera‐trap abundance indices
Author(s) -
Bengsen Andrew J.,
Leung Luke K.P.,
Lapidge Steven J.,
Gordon Iain J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.1002/jwmg.132
Subject(s) - camera trap , abundance (ecology) , trap (plumbing) , index (typography) , variance (accounting) , wildlife , population , statistics , geography , environmental science , ecology , mathematics , biology , computer science , demography , meteorology , economics , sociology , accounting , world wide web
The lack of variance estimates constrain the utility of abundance indices calculated from camera‐trap data. We adapted a General Index model, which allows variance estimation, to analyze camera‐trap observations of feral pigs ( Sus scrofa ) for population monitoring in a tropical rainforest. We tested whether the index would respond to population manipulation, and found that it decreased by 57% following removal of 24 pigs and remained low in the following period. Our method is useful for monitoring other large animals in difficult landscapes, and the model can be used to enhance the value of existing data sets. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.