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O'Mahony ÉN, Sremba AL, Keen EM, Robinson N, Dundas A, Steel D, Wray J, Baker CS, Gaggiotti OE. Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone: A minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics. Mol Ecol Resour 2024:e13957. [PMID: 38576153 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
In coastal British Columbia, Canada, marine megafauna such as humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus velifera) have been subject to a history of exploitation and near extirpation. While their populations have been in recovery, significant threats are posed to these vulnerable species by proposed natural resource ventures in this region, in addition to the compounding effects of anthropogenic climate change. Genetic tools play a vital role in informing conservation efforts, but the associated collection of tissue biopsy samples can be challenging for the investigators and disruptive to the ongoing behaviour of the targeted whales. Here, we evaluate a minimally intrusive approach based on collecting exhaled breath condensate, or respiratory 'blow' samples, from baleen whales using an unoccupied aerial system (UAS), within Gitga'at First Nation territory for conservation genetics. Minimal behavioural responses to the sampling technique were observed, with no response detected 87% of the time (of 112 UAS deployments). DNA from whale blow (n = 88 samples) was extracted, and DNA profiles consisting of 10 nuclear microsatellite loci, sex identification and mitochondrial (mt) DNA haplotypes were constructed. An average of 7.5 microsatellite loci per individual were successfully genotyped. The success rates for mtDNA and sex assignment were 80% and 89% respectively. Thus, this minimally intrusive sampling method can be used to describe genetic diversity and generate genetic profiles for individual identification. The results of this research demonstrate the potential of UAS-collected whale blow for conservation genetics from a remote location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éadin N O'Mahony
- Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, UK
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Angela L Sremba
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Centre, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystem Resources, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA
| | - Eric M Keen
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nicole Robinson
- Gitga'at Oceans and Lands Department, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Archie Dundas
- Gitga'at Oceans and Lands Department, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Debbie Steel
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Centre, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA
| | - Janie Wray
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Scott Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Centre, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA
| | - Oscar E Gaggiotti
- Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, UK
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Brooks GC, Wendt A, Haas CA, Roberts JH. Comparing estimates of census and effective population size in an endangered amphibian. Anim Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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van der Knaap I, Ashe E, Hannay D, Bergman AG, Nielsen KA, Lo CF, Williams R. Behavioural responses of wild Pacific salmon and herring to boat noise. Mar Pollut Bull 2022; 174:113257. [PMID: 34933218 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is growing concern about impacts of ship and small boat noise on marine wildlife. Few studies have quantified impacts of anthropogenic noise on ecologically, economically, and culturally important fish. We conducted open net pen experiments to measure Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and juvenile salmon (pink, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, and chum, Oncorhynchus keta) behavioural response to noise generated by three boats travelling at different speeds. Dose-response curves for herring and salmon estimated 50% probability of eliciting a response at broadband received levels of 123 and 140 dB (re 1 μPa), respectively. Composite responses (yes/no behaviour change) were evaluated. Both genera spent more time exhibiting behaviours consistent with anti-predator response during boat passings. Repeated elicitation of vigilance or anti-predatory responses could result in increased energy expenditure or decreased foraging. These experiments form an important step toward assessing population-level consequences of noise, and its ecological costs and benefits to predators and prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge van der Knaap
- Leiden University, Institute of Biology, Sylvius, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Erin Ashe
- Oceans Initiative, 117 E Louisa St #135, Seattle, WA 98102, USA.
| | - Dave Hannay
- JASCO Applied Sciences, 2305-4464 Markham Street, Victoria, BC V8Z 7X8, Canada.
| | | | | | - Catherine F Lo
- Oceans Initiative, 117 E Louisa St #135, Seattle, WA 98102, USA.
| | - Rob Williams
- Oceans Initiative, 117 E Louisa St #135, Seattle, WA 98102, USA.
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Keen EM, Pilkington J, O’Mahony É, Thompson KL, Hendricks B, Robinson N, Dundas A, Nichol L, Alidina HM, Meuter H, Picard CR, Wray J. Fin whales of the Great Bear Rainforest: Balaenoptera physalus velifera in a Canadian Pacific fjord system. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256815. [PMID: 34478477 PMCID: PMC8415578 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are widely considered an offshore and oceanic species, but certain populations also use coastal areas and semi-enclosed seas. Based upon fifteen years of study, we report that Canadian Pacific fin whales (B. p. velifera) have returned to the Kitimat Fjord System (KFS) in the Great Bear Rainforest, and have established a seasonally resident population in its intracoastal waters. This is the only fjord system along this coast or elsewhere in which fin whales are known to occur regularly with strong site fidelity. The KFS was also the only Canadian Pacific fjord system in which fin whales were commonly found and killed during commercial whaling, pointing to its long-term importance. Traditional knowledge, whaling records, and citizen science databases suggest that fin whales were extirpated from this area prior to their return in 2005-2006. Visual surveys and mark-recapture analysis documented their repopulation of the area, with 100-120 whales using the fjord system in recent years, as well as the establishment of a seasonally resident population with annual return rates higher than 70%. Line transect surveys identified the central and outer channels of the KFS as the primary fin whale habitat, with the greatest densities occurring in Squally Channel and Caamaño Sound. Fin whales were observed in the KFS in most months of the year. Vessel- and shore-based surveys (27,311 km and 6,572 hours of effort, respectively) indicated regular fin whale presence (2,542 detections), including mother-calf pairs, from June to October and peak abundance in late August-early September. Seasonal patterns were variable year-to-year, and several lines of evidence indicated that fin whales arrived and departed from the KFS repeatedly throughout the summer and fall. Additionally, we report on the population's social network and morphometrics. These findings offer insights into the dynamics of population recovery in an area where several marine shipping projects are proposed. The fin whales of the Great Bear Rainforest represent a rare exception to general patterns in this species' natural history, and we highlight the importance of their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Keen
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- Environmental Studies, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, United States of America
- Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James Pilkington
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Éadin O’Mahony
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Kim-Ly Thompson
- Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Benjamin Hendricks
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- SoundSpace Analytics, Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicole Robinson
- Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Archie Dundas
- Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Linda Nichol
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Hermann Meuter
- Pacific Whale Society, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chris R. Picard
- Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Janie Wray
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- Pacific Orca Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
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Wray J, Keen E, O’Mahony ÉN. Social survival: Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use social structure to partition ecological niches within proposed critical habitat. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245409. [PMID: 34161375 PMCID: PMC8221492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal culture and social bonds are relevant to wildlife conservation because they influence patterns of geography, behavior, and strategies of survival. Numerous examples of socially-driven habitat partitioning and ecological-niche specialization can be found among vertebrates, including toothed whales. But such social-ecological dynamics, described here as ‘social niche partitioning’, are not known among baleen whales, whose societies—particularly on foraging grounds—are largely perceived as unstructured and incidental to matters of habitat use and conservation. However, through 16 years of behavioral observations and photo-identifications of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding within a fjord system in the Canadian Pacific (primarily within Gitga’at First Nation waters), we have documented long-term pair bonds (up to 12 years) as well as a complex societal structure, which corresponds closely to persistent patterns in feeding strategy, long-term site fidelity (extended occupancy and annual rate of return up to 75%), specific geographic preferences within the fjord system, and other forms of habitat use. Randomization tests of network congruency and clustering algorithms were used to test for overlap in patterns of social structure and habitat use, which confirmed the occurrence of social niche partitioning on the feeding grounds of this baleen whale species. In addition, we document the extensive practice of group bubble net feeding in Pacific Canada. This coordinated feeding behavior was found to strongly mediate the social structure and habitat use within this humpback whale society. Additionally, during our 2004–2019 study, we observed a shift in social network structure in 2010–2012, which corresponded with environmental and demographic shifts including a sudden decline in the population’s calving rate. Our findings indicate that the social lives of humpback whales, and perhaps baleen whales generally, are more complex than previously supposed and should be a primary consideration in the assessment of potential impacts to important habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janie Wray
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- Pacific Orca Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Eric Keen
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- Marine Ecology & Telemetry Research, Seabeck, Washington, United States of America
- Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Éadin N. O’Mahony
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
- Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, United Kingdom
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Hendricks B, Wray JL, Keen EM, Alidina HM, Gulliver TA, Picard CR. Automated localization of whales in coastal fjords. J Acoust Soc Am 2019; 146:4672. [PMID: 31893735 DOI: 10.1121/1.5138125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Localization and tracking of vocalizing marine mammals are powerful tools for understanding and mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic stressors such as vessel noise on habitat use of cetaceans. A large-aperture hydrophone network has been installed in the Kitimat Fjord System, an ecologically, culturally, and economically valued marine environment in northern British Columbia, Canada. This network consists of four synchronized bottom-mounted hydrophones that permanently record and radio-transmit data to a land-based laboratory. An automated system has been developed which includes routines to localize transient bio-acoustic signals from three or more streaming hydrophones in near real-time. These routines comprise the correlation of hydrophone signals, the construction of a time lag model, and signal localization and error estimation from a spatial likelihood surface. The localization method was tested experimentally and subsequently applied to vocalizations from humpback whales, fin whales, and killer whales. Refractive and reflective sound propagation effects in the confined fjords are assessed using ray tracing propagation models. Automated localization results are compared to ground-truth data and shown to provide good accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Hendricks
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Janie L Wray
- North Coast Cetacean Society, 26 Cottonwood Road, Alert Bay, British Columbia V0N 1A0, Canada
| | - Eric M Keen
- Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research, 2468 Camp McKenzie Trail Northwest, Seabeck, Washington 98380, USA
| | - Hussein M Alidina
- Oceans Program, World Wildlife Fund Canada, 259-560 Johnston Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3C6, Canada
| | - T Aaron Gulliver
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Chris R Picard
- Gitga'at Oceans and Lands Department, 445 Hayimiisaxaa Way, Hartley Bay, British Columbia V0V 1A0, Canada
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Thompson KL, Reece N, Robinson N, Fisher HJ, Ban NC, Picard CR. “We monitor by living here”: community-driven actualization of a social-ecological monitoring program based in the knowledge of Indigenous harvesters. Facets (Ott) 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2019-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers and government agencies are increasingly embracing Indigenous knowledge to inform ecological monitoring. However, there are few detailed accounts of designing monitoring methods based in Indigenous knowledge to meet Indigenous objectives. This research details the design of a program initiated by the Gitga’at First Nation to document the knowledge and observations of their harvesters as a contemporary monitoring initiative. We, Gitga’at and academic researchers, first conducted informal interviews with knowledge holders to gauge interest and to establish community objectives. We then convened community meetings and workshops to design methods to document harvesters’ knowledge and observations. We tested and revised these methods (a post-harvest season interview guide, and a logbook to be completed by harvesters) over the course of two harvest seasons. Semi-structured interviews were more successful than the logbooks in meeting multiple community monitoring objectives. However, we were encouraged by younger participants’ suggestions to develop a digital app based on the logbook to encourage future participation. Our work can serve as a guide to other Indigenous peoples and collaborators who wish to leverage the knowledge of their land and (or) sea users, and the methods we develop are available to adapt to other cultural, social-ecological, and political contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim-Ly Thompson
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Nikkita Reece
- Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department, Gitga’at First Nation, Hartley Bay, BC V0V 1A0, Canada
| | - Nicole Robinson
- Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department, Gitga’at First Nation, Hartley Bay, BC V0V 1A0, Canada
| | - Havana-Jae Fisher
- Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department, Gitga’at First Nation, Hartley Bay, BC V0V 1A0, Canada
| | - Natalie C. Ban
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Chris R. Picard
- Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department, Gitga’at First Nation, Hartley Bay, BC V0V 1A0, Canada
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Keen EM, Wray J, Pilkington JF, Thompson KL, Picard CR. Distinct habitat use strategies of sympatric rorqual whales within a fjord system. Mar Environ Res 2018; 140:180-189. [PMID: 29937199 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We used ecosystem sampling during systematic surveys and opportunistic focal follows, comparison tests, and random forest models to evaluate fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) habitat associations within an inland feeding ground (Kitimat Fjord System, British Columbia, Canada). Though these species are sympatric and share a common prey source, they were attuned to different aspects of the local habitat. The fin whales were associated with habitat properties reminiscent of the open ocean. Humpback whales, in contrast, were associated with features more commonly associated with the inland waters of fjords. Fixed habitat features, such as seafloor depth and distance from the fjord mouth, were the most important predictors of fin whale presence, but fixed and dynamic variables, such as surface properties, predicted humpback whale presence with equal (moderate) success. With the exception of strong salinity gradients for humpback whales, habitat conditions were poor predictors of feeding state. Fin whales practiced a spatially confined, seasonally stable, and thus more predictable use of certain channels within the fjord system. These findings are compatible with site loyal behavior, which is interesting in light of the species' historical, unique use of this fjord system. The relatively lackluster performance of humpback-habitat models, coupled with the importance of oceanographic properties, makes the humpback's habitat use strategy more uncertain. The fact that two sympatric species sharing a common prey source exhibited different habitat use strategies suggests that at least one species was informed by something in addition to prey. Given that the two species are attuned to different aspects of the fjord habitat, their responses to habitat changes, including anthropogenic impacts, would likely be different in both nature and degree. Our findings highlight the value of comparative studies and the complexity of rorqual habitat use, which must be understood in order for critical habitat to be identified and protected.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Keen
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, USA; North Coast Cetacean Society, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - J Wray
- North Coast Cetacean Society, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - J F Pilkington
- Cetacean Research Program, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - K L Thompson
- Gitga'at Oceans and Lands Department, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - C R Picard
- Gitga'at Oceans and Lands Department, Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada.
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Pawley MDM, Hupman KE, Stockin KA, Gilman A. Examining the viability of dorsal fin pigmentation for individual identification of poorly-marked delphinids. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12593. [PMID: 30135455 PMCID: PMC6105684 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30842-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Dolphin photo-identification has traditionally relied only on distinctive markings on the dorsal fin—this is problematic for delphinids whose populations exhibit a low mark ratio. We used common dolphins (genus Delphinus) as a model species to assess the viability of using pigmentation for photo-identification. Using a photo-identification catalogue of 169 adult individuals collected between 2002 and 2013, we extracted features that quantified pigmentation in a manner that was robust to lighting artefacts and dorsal fin orientation. We determined the proportion of individuals which exhibited pigmentation and examined temporal stability by (i) visually examining individuals and (ii) testing for seriation. We found 88–91% of images could be manually matched to the correct individual in the catalogue based on pigmentation patterns alone. A linear discriminant analysis classifier correctly identified the correct individual 77% of the time. We found 95% common dolphins exhibited distinctive pigmentation—all of which were temporarily stable. Our work challenges the current thinking that pigmentation is an unreliable feature for delphinid photo-identification and suggests that this feature could be applied to common dolphins and other poorly-marked delphinids.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D M Pawley
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand.
| | - K E Hupman
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand.,National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, 301 Evans Bay Parade, Wellington, 6021, New Zealand
| | - K A Stockin
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand
| | - A Gilman
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand.
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Tezanos-Pinto G, Hupman K, Wiseman N, Dwyer SL, Baker CS, Brooks L, Outhwaite B, Lea C, Stockin KA. Local abundance, apparent survival and site fidelity of Bryde’s whales in the Hauraki Gulf (New Zealand) inferred from long-term photo-identification. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Keen
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography; UC: San Diego; 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla California 92093 USA
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Ritts M, Gage SH, Picard CR, Dundas E, Dundas S. Collaborative research praxis to establish baseline ecoacoustics conditions in Gitga’at Territory. Glob Ecol Conserv 2016; 7:25-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Belo VS, Werneck GL, da Silva ES, Barbosa DS, Struchiner CJ. Population Estimation Methods for Free-Ranging Dogs: A Systematic Review. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144830. [PMID: 26673165 PMCID: PMC4684217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The understanding of the structure of free-roaming dog populations is of extreme importance for the planning and monitoring of populational control strategies and animal welfare. The methods used to estimate the abundance of this group of dogs are more complex than the ones used with domiciled owned dogs. In this systematic review, we analyze the techniques and the results obtained in studies that seek to estimate the size of free-ranging dog populations. Twenty-six studies were reviewed regarding the quality of execution and their capacity to generate valid estimates. Seven of the eight publications that take a simple count of the animal population did not consider the different probabilities of animal detection; only one study used methods based on distances; twelve relied on capture-recapture models for closed populations without considering heterogeneities in capture probabilities; six studies applied their own methods with different potential and limitations. Potential sources of bias in the studies were related to the inadequate description or implementation of animal capturing or viewing procedures and to inadequacies in the identification and registration of dogs. Thus, there was a predominance of estimates with low validity. Abundance and density estimates carried high variability, and all studies identified a greater number of male dogs. We point to enhancements necessary for the implementation of future studies and to potential updates and revisions to the recommendations of the World Health Organization with respect to the estimation of free-ranging dog populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Silva Belo
- Departamento de Endemias Samuel Pessoa, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
- Campus Centro-Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- * E-mail:
| | - Guilherme Loureiro Werneck
- Departamento de Epidemiologia - Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Eduardo Sérgio da Silva
- Campus Centro-Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - David Soeiro Barbosa
- Departamento de Endemias Samuel Pessoa, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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