Premium
SURVIVAL ESTIMATES FOR FLORIDA MANATEES FROM THE PHOTO‐IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS
Author(s) -
Langtimm Catherine A.,
Beck Cathy A.,
Edwards Holly H.,
FickChild Kristin J.,
Ackerman Bruce B.,
Barton Sheri L.,
Hartley Wayne C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01171.x
Subject(s) - manatee , population , endangered species , mark and recapture , geography , sampling (signal processing) , ecology , biology , habitat , fishery , statistics , environmental science , demography , mathematics , filter (signal processing) , sociology , computer science , computer vision
A bstract We estimated adult survival probabilities for the endangered Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris ) in four regional populations using photoidentification data and open‐population capture‐recapture statistical models. The mean annual adult survival probability over the most recent 10‐yr period of available estimates was as follows: Northwest ‐ 0.956 (SE 0.007), Upper St. Johns River ‐ 0.960 (0.011), Atlantic Coast ‐ 0.937 (0.008), and Southwest ‐ 0.908 (0.019). Estimates of temporal variance independent of sampling error, calculated from the survival estimates, indicated constant survival in the Upper St. Johns River, true temporal variability in the Northwest and Atlantic Coast, and large sampling variability obscuring estimates for the Southwest. Calf and subadult survival probabilities were estimated for the Upper St. Johns River from the only available data for known‐aged individuals: 0.810 (95% CI 0.727–0.873) for 1st year calves, 0.915 (0.827–0.960) for 2nd year calves, and 0.969 (0.946–0.982) for manatee 3 yr or older. These estimates of survival probabilities and temporal variance, in conjunction with estimates of reproduction probabilities from photoidentification data can be used to model manatee population dynamics, estimate population growth rates, and provide an integrated measure of regional status.