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ASSESSING RARITY OF SPECIES WITH LOW DETECTABILITY: LICHENS IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTS
Author(s) -
Edwards Thomas C.,
Cutler D. Richard,
Geiser Linda,
Alegria Jim,
McKenzie Dan
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1890/02-5236
Subject(s) - lichen , ecology , habitat , sampling (signal processing) , geography , extant taxon , sampling design , forest inventory , forest management , environmental resource management , environmental science , computer science , biology , population , sociology , demography , filter (signal processing) , evolutionary biology , computer vision
We show how simple statistical analyses of systematically collected inventory data can be used to provide reliable information about the distribution and habitat associations of rare species. Using an existing design‐based sampling grid on which epiphytic macrolichens had been inventoried in the Northwest Forest Plan area of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, we (1) estimate frequencies and standard errors for each of 25 lichen species having special management designation (i.e., Survey and Manage), (2) assess the probability that individual species were associated with specific land allocation and forest stand age classifications, and (3) provide estimates of sample sizes necessary to ensure sufficient detections for these analyses. We conclude with a discussion of management and conservation information needs that extant data can satisfy and identify advantages and limitations of random vs. nonrandom sampling strategies. Combining design‐assisted and model‐assisted approaches can overcome some of the limitations of either single strategy.