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Inferring species extinction: the use of sighting records
Author(s) -
Boakes Elizabeth H.,
Rout Tracy M.,
Collen Ben
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
methods in ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.425
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2041-210X
DOI - 10.1111/2041-210x.12365
Subject(s) - extinction (optical mineralogy) , inference , biodiversity , extinction probability , computer science , population , data science , geography , environmental resource management , ecology , population size , environmental science , biology , artificial intelligence , paleontology , demography , sociology
Summary Accurate measures of extinction are needed in biodiversity monitoring and conservation management, but ascertaining the exact time at which a species became extinct is difficult since a small population may go undetected for many years. For little‐studied species, often the only information available is historical sighting data. Several statistical tests have been developed which use this information to make inferences about a species’ extinction. The increasing array of methods can present a daunting choice. We review the more frequently cited methods, for each model explaining its assumptions, the data required, the scenarios it was developed for and power considerations, if known. We provide guidance on selecting the most appropriate method for a particular sighting record. We give examples from the literature to show how the methods have been usefully applied across conservation research, informing conservation decision‐making and extinction inference.