Distance sampling with camera traps. Issue 11 (10th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howe, Eric J.; Buckland, Stephen T.; Després‐Einspenner, Marie‐Lyne; Kühl, Hjalmar S.
• Editors: Matthiopoulos, Jason
• Is Part Of: Methods in ecology and evolution. Volume 8:Issue 11(2017)
• Page Start: 1558
• Page End: 1565
• Publication Date: 2017-05-10
• Subjects: animal abundance -- camera trapping -- density -- distance sampling -- Maxwell's duiker; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.12790
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-210X

Abstract

Summary: Reliable estimates of animal density and abundance are essential for effective wildlife conservation and management. Camera trapping has proven efficient for sampling multiple species, but statistical estimators of density from camera trapping data for species that cannot be individually identified are still in development. We extend point‐transect methods for estimating animal density to accommodate data from camera traps, allowing researchers to exploit existing distance sampling theory and software for designing studies and analysing data. We tested it by simulation, and used it to estimate densities of Maxwell's duikers ( Philantomba maxwellii ) in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. Densities estimated from simulated data were unbiased when we assumed animals were not available for detection during long periods of rest. Estimated duiker densities were higher than recent estimates from line transect surveys, which are believed to underestimate densities of forest ungulates. We expect these methods to provide an effective means to estimate animal density from camera trapping data and to be applicable in a variety of settings.