Dear MARMAMers,
This recent paper still in early view might be of interest to some of you.
Marques, T. A.; Thomas, L.; Martin, S. W.; Mellinger, D. K.; Ward, J.
A.; Moretti, D. J.; Harris, D. & Tyack, P. L. (2012) Estimating animal
population density using passive acoustics Biological Reviews. DOI:
10.1111/brv.12001
Abstract follows below. A pdf is available upon request.
This output is closely related to DECAF, a large project on passive
acoustics density estimation, which ended a couple of years ago.
Additional resources and outputs can be found in DECAF's webpage
http://www.creem.st-and.ac.uk/decaf/
which includes links to pdfs of papers on related issues.
All the best
Tiago
Reliable estimation of the size or density of wild animal populations is
very important for effective wildlife management, conservation and
ecology. Currently, the most widely used methods for obtaining such
estimates involve either sighting animals from transect lines or some
form of capture-recapture on marked or uniquely identifiable
individuals. However, many species are difficult to sight, and cannot be
easily marked or recaptured. Some of these species produce readily
identifiable sounds, providing an opportunity to use passive acoustic
data to estimate animal density. In addition, even for species for which
other visually based methods are feasible, passive acoustic methods
offer the potential for greater detection ranges in some environments
(e.g. underwater or in dense forest), and hence potentially better
precision. Automated data collection means that surveys can take place
at times and in places where it would be too expensive or dangerous to
send human observers. Here, we present an overview of animal density
estimation using passive acoustic data, a relatively new and
fast-developing field. We review the types of data and methodological
approaches currently available to researchers
and we provide a framework for acoustics-based density estimation,
illustrated with examples from real-world case studies. We mention
moving sensor platforms (e.g. towed acoustics), but then focus on
methods involving sensors at fixed locations, particularly hydrophones
to survey marine mammals, as acoustic-based density estimation research
to date has been concentrated in this area. Primary among these are
methods based on distance sampling and spatially explicit
capture-recapture. The methods are also applicable to other aquatic and
terrestrial sound-producing taxa.
We conclude that, despite being in its infancy, density estimation based
on passive acoustic data likely will become an important method for
surveying a number of diverse taxa, such as sea mammals, fish, birds,
amphibians, and insects, especially in situations where inferences are
required over long periods of time. There is considerable work ahead,
with several potentially fruitful research areas, including the
development of (i) hardware and software for data acquisition, (ii)
efficient, calibrated, automated detection and classification systems,
and (iii) statistical approaches optimized for this application.
Further, survey design will need to be developed, and research is needed
on the acoustic behaviour of target species. Fundamental research on
vocalization rates and group sizes, and the relation between these and
other factors such as season or behaviour state, is critical. Evaluation
of the methods under known density scenarios will be important for
empirically validating the approaches presented here.
Key words: acoustic surveys, bioacoustics, density estimation, distance
sampling, passive acoustic monitoring, spatially explicit
capture-recapture, fixed sensors, hydrophones.
--
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tiago André Marques
Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment
Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling
University of St Andrews
The Observatory
Buchanan Gardens
St Andrews
Fife KY16 9LZ
Scotland
Tel: 00441334461842 Fax: 00441334461800 (Scotland office)
Tel: 00351210198736 (Portugal home)
http://www-maths.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/homepages/tam2.html
http://www.creem.st-and.ac.uk/tiago/
The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No
SC013532
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