Recounting bias can affect abundance estimates from intensive helicopter surveys of feral goats

Article


Tracey, John P. and Fleming, Peter J. S.. 2023. "Recounting bias can affect abundance estimates from intensive helicopter surveys of feral goats." Wildlife Research. 50 (5), pp. 389-397. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR22097
Article Title

Recounting bias can affect abundance estimates from intensive helicopter surveys of feral goats

ERA Journal ID3020
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsTracey, John P. and Fleming, Peter J. S.
Journal TitleWildlife Research
Journal Citation50 (5), pp. 389-397
Number of Pages9
Year2023
PublisherCSIRO Publishing
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN1035-3712
1448-5494
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1071/WR22097
Web Address (URL)https://www.publish.csiro.au/WR/WR22097
Abstract

Context: Aerial surveys are widely used for estimating the abundance of wildlife over large areas. The failure to count all animals within survey transects is commonly acknowledged and there are many techniques to measure and correct for underestimation. However, the possibility of animals being counted more than once in intensive surveys, which leads to overestimation, is rarely examined. Animals can move in response to observers or vehicles, and bias can occur when animals move before or after detection. Movement of animals immediately prior to and associated with observation processes is methodologically accommodated in distance sampling but bias attributable to responsive movement after observation platforms have passed requires investigation.

Aims: We sought to investigate potential biases caused by animal movement during intensive helicopter surveys of feral goats, and to quantify the probability that animals are available for recounting because of their responsive movements.

Methods: Using ground-based behavioural studies simultaneous with intensive helicopter strip surveys of feral goats, we measured the extent of responsive movement, distances and directions moved, and sampling design parameters, and contrasted those with random movements.

Key results: Feral goats did not move randomly in response to helicopters. Animals within the transect strips, and therefore potentially visible from the aircraft, were more likely to move than those outside the transect. Considerable responsive movement (flushing) occurred between transects and more animals (64%, n = 448) moved towards unsampled transects than towards transects already sampled. Because of the spatial separation of transects, 21% of goats were available for recounting in adjacent transects, leading to potential overestimation.

Conclusions: Although most extensive surveys of macropods and other wildlife in Australia account for overestimation in their design, surveys that sample intensively and apply valid corrections for undercounting are likely to produce positively biased estimates of abundance where flushing occurs. Likewise, intensive thermal surveys could be subject to positive bias for animals prone to flushing. This is routinely ignored in wildlife management and research where close transects are used to estimate abundance. Implications: Responsive movement requires consideration when designing intensive aerial surveys of wildlife. Randomised transects without replacement or larger distances between transects will counteract recounting bias.

Keywordsaerial survey; antipredator response; Capra hircus; density; feral goat; responsive movement; ungulate; wildlife management
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020410402. Environmental assessment and monitoring
410407. Wildlife and habitat management
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Canberra
Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales
University of New England
Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z26zw/recounting-bias-can-affect-abundance-estimates-from-intensive-helicopter-surveys-of-feral-goats

Download files


Published Version
WR22097.pdf
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File access level: Anyone

  • 33
    total views
  • 24
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Isolation, small population size, and management influence inbreeding and reduced genetic variation in K’gari dingoes
Miller, Susan M., Behrendorff, Linda, Allen, Benjamin L, Andrew, Rose L., Ballard, Guy, Ballard, J. William O., Cairns, Kylie M., Conroy, Gabriel C., Fleming, Peter J. S., Grueber, Catherine E., Oakey, Jane, Smith, Deane A., Stephens, Danielle, Wade, Claire and Bishop, Jacqueline M.. 2024. "Isolation, small population size, and management influence inbreeding and reduced genetic variation in K’gari dingoes." Conservation Genetics. 25 (4), pp. 955-971. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-024-01616-8
Why humans kill animals and why we cannot avoid it
Allen, Benjamin L., Bobier, Christopher, Dawson, Stuart, Fleming, Peter J.S., Hampton, Jordan, Jachowski, David, Kerley, Graham I.H., Linnell, John D.C., Marnewick, Kelly, Minnie, Liaan, Muthersbaugh, Mike, O'Riain, M. Justin, Parker, Dan, Proulx, Gilbert, Somers, Michael J. and Titus, Keifer. 2023. "Why humans kill animals and why we cannot avoid it." Science of the Total Environment. 896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165283
Brushtail possum terrestrial activity patterns are driven by climatic conditions, breeding and moonlight intensity
Śmielak, Michał Krzysztof, Ballard, Guy, Fleming, Peter John Sabine, Körtner, Gerhard, Vernes, Karl and Reid, Nick. 2023. "Brushtail possum terrestrial activity patterns are driven by climatic conditions, breeding and moonlight intensity." Mammal Research. 68 (4), pp. 547-560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00691-5
Can we save large carnivores without losing large carnivore science?
Allen, Benjamin L., Allen, Lee R., Andren, Henrik, Ballard, Guy, Boitani, Luigi, Engeman, Richard M., Fleming, Peter J. S., Ford, Adam T., Haswell, Peter M., Kowalczyk, Rafał, Linnell, John D. C., Mech, L. David and Parker, Daniel M.. 2017. "Can we save large carnivores without losing large carnivore science?" Food Webs. 12, pp. 64-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2017.02.008
Improving Animal Welfare Outcomes for Live-Trapped Terrestrial Mammals in Australia
Allen, Benjamin L., Ballard, Guy, Fleming, Peter J. S., Meek, Paul D. and Smith, Deane. 2022. "Improving Animal Welfare Outcomes for Live-Trapped Terrestrial Mammals in Australia." Proulx, Gilbert (ed.) Mammal Trapping Wildlife Management, Animal Welfare & International Standards. Alberta, Canada. Alpha Wildlife Publications. pp. 97-120
An isolated population reveals greater genetic structuring of the Australian dingo
Stephens, Danielle, Fleming, Peter J. S., Sawyers, Emma and Mayr, Tim P.. 2022. "An isolated population reveals greater genetic structuring of the Australian dingo." Scientific Reports. 12 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23648-1
Spatial and temporal activity patterns of owned, free-roaming dogs in coastal eastern Australia
Sparkes, Jessica, Körtner, Gerhard, Ballard, Guy and Fleming, Peter J. S.. 2022. "Spatial and temporal activity patterns of owned, free-roaming dogs in coastal eastern Australia." Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105641
Observer differences in individual identification of feral cats from camera trap images
Sparkes, Jessica and Fleming, Peter J. S.. 2022. "Observer differences in individual identification of feral cats from camera trap images." Australian Mammalogy. 45 (1), pp. 32-40. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM21030
Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia
Fleming, Patricia A., Stobo-Wilson, Alyson M., Crawford, Heather M., Dawson, Stuart J., Dickman, Chris R., Doherty, Tim S., Fleming, Peter J. S., Newsome, Thomas M., Palmer, Russell, Thompson, Jim A. and Woinarski, John C. Z.. 2022. "Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia." Royal Society Open Science. 9 (10). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220792
Response to comments on 'Compassionate Conservation deserves a morally serious rather than dismissive response - reply to Callen et al., 2020'
Callen, Alex, Hayward, Matt W., Klop-Toker, Kaya, Allen, Benjamin L., Ballard, Guy, Beranek, Chad T., Broekhuis, Femke, Bugir, Cassandra K., Clarke, Rohan H., Clulow, John, Clulow, Simon, Daltry, Jennifer C., Davies-Mostert, Harriet T., Di Blanco, Yamil E., Dixon, Victoria, Fleming, Peter J. S., Howell, Lachlan G., Kerley, Graham I. H., Legge, Sarah M., ..., Wuster, Wolfgang. 2020. "Response to comments on 'Compassionate Conservation deserves a morally serious rather than dismissive response - reply to Callen et al., 2020'." Biological Conservation. 244, pp. 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108517
Envisioning the future with ‘compassionate conservation’: An ominous projection for native wildlife and biodiversity
Callen, Alex, Hayward, Matt W., Klop-Toker, Kaya, Allen, Benjamin L., Ballard, Guy, Beranek, Chad T., Broekhuis, Femke, Bugir, Cassandra K., Clarke, Rohan H., Clulow, John, Clulow, Simon, Daltry, Jennifer C., Davies-Mostert, Harriet T., Di Blanco, Yamil E., Dixon, Victoria, Fleming, Peter J. S., Howell, Lachlan G., Kerley, Graham I. H., Legge, Sarah M., ..., Wuster, Wolfgang. 2020. "Envisioning the future with ‘compassionate conservation’: An ominous projection for native wildlife and biodiversity." Biological Conservation. 241, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108365
Animal welfare considerations for using large carnivores and guardian dogs as vertebrate biocontrol tools against other animals
Allen, Benjamin L., Allen, Lee R., Ballard, Guy, Drouilly, Marine, Fleming, Peter J.S., Hampton, Jordan O., Hayward, Matthew W., Kerley, Graham I.H., Meek, Paul D., Minnie, Liaan, O'Riain, M. Justin, Parker, Daniel M. and Somers, Michael J.. 2019. "Animal welfare considerations for using large carnivores and guardian dogs as vertebrate biocontrol tools against other animals ." Biological Conservation. 232, pp. 258-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.02.019
Dingo baiting did not reduce fetal/calf loss in beef cattle in northern South Australia
Campbell, Greg, Coffey, Andrew, Miller, Heather, Read, John L., Brook, Anthony, Fleming, Peter J. S., Bird, Peter, Eldridge, Steve and Allen, Benjamin L.. 2019. "Dingo baiting did not reduce fetal/calf loss in beef cattle in northern South Australia." Animal Production Science. 59 (2), pp. 319-330. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN17008
Wildlife conservation management on inhabited islands
Allen, Benjamin L., Cox, Tarnya E., Fleming, Peter J. S., Meek, Paul D. and Russell, James C.. 2018. "Wildlife conservation management on inhabited islands." Australasian Journal of Environmental Management. 25 (1), pp. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1080/14486563.2018.1424500
Deconstructing compassionate conservation
Hayward, Matt, Callen, Alex, Allen, Benjamin L., Ballard, Guy, Broekhuis, Femke, Bugir, Cassandra, Clarke, Rohan H., Clulow, John, Clulow, Simon, Daltry, Jennifer C., Davies-Mostert, Harriet T., Fleming, Peter J. S., Griffin, Andrea S., Howell, Lachlan G., Kerley, Graham I. H., Klop-Toker, Kaya, Legge, Sarah, Major, Tom, Meyer, Ninon, ..., Wuster, Wolfgang. 2019. "Deconstructing compassionate conservation." Conservation Biology. 33 (4), pp. 760-768. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13366
Bringing objectivity to wildlife management: Welfare effects of guardian dogs
Allen, Benjamin, Allen, Lee R., Ballard, Guy, Drouilly, Marine, Fleming, Peter J.S., Hampton, Jordan O., Hayward, Matthew W., Kerley, Graham I.H., Meek, Paul D., Minnie, Liaan, O'Riain, M. Justin, Parker, Daniel M. and Somers, Michael J.. 2019. "Bringing objectivity to wildlife management: Welfare effects of guardian dogs." Biological Conservation. 236, p. 582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.04.024
A roadmap to meaningful dingo conservation
Allen, Benjamin L., Allen, Lee R., Ballard, Guy, Jackson, Stephen M. and Fleming, Peter J. S.. 2017. "A roadmap to meaningful dingo conservation." Canid Biology & Conservation. 20 (11), pp. 45-56.
Large carnivore science: non-experimental studies are useful, but experiments are better
Allen, Benjamin L., Allen, Lee R., Andren, Henrik, Ballard, Guy, Boitani, Luigi, Engeman, Richard M., Fleming, Peter J. S., Ford, Adam T., Haswell, Peter M., Kowalczyk, Rafal, Linnell, John D. C., Mech, L. David and Parker, Daniel M.. 2017. "Large carnivore science: non-experimental studies are useful, but experiments are better." Food Webs. 13, pp. 49-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2017.06.002
Top-predators as biodiversity regulators: contemporary issues affecting knowledge and management of dingoes in Australia
Allen, Benjamin L., Fleming, Peter J. S., Hayward, Matt, Allen, Lee R., Engeman, Richard M., Ballard, Guy and Leung, Luke K.-P.. 2012. "Top-predators as biodiversity regulators: contemporary issues affecting knowledge and management of dingoes in Australia." Lameed, Gbolagade Akeem (ed.) Biodiversity enrichment in a diverse world. Rijeka, Croatia. In-Tech. pp. 85-132
Seven considerations about dingoes as biodiversity engineers: the socioecological niches of dogs in Australia
Fleming, Peter J. S., Allen, Benjamin L. and Ballard, Guy-Anthony. 2012. "Seven considerations about dingoes as biodiversity engineers: the socioecological niches of dogs in Australia." Australian Mammalogy. 34 (1), pp. 119-123. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM11012
Reintroducing the dingo: the risk of dingo predation to threatened vertebrates of western New South Wales
Allen, B. L. and Fleming, P. J. S.. 2012. "Reintroducing the dingo: the risk of dingo predation to threatened vertebrates of western New South Wales." Wildlife Research. 39 (1), pp. 35-50. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR11128
The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia
Matthews, Alison, Ruykys, Laura, Ellis, Bill, FitzGibbon, Sean, Lunney, Daniel, Crowther, Mathew S., Glen, Alistair S., Purcell, Brad, Moseby, Katherine, Stott, Jenny, Fletcher, Don, Wimpenny, Claire, Allen, Benjamin L., Van Bommel, Linda, Roberts, Michael, Davies, Nicole, Green, Ken, Newsome, Thomas, Ballard, Guy, ..., Wiggins, Natasha. 2013. "The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia." Australian Mammalogy. 35 (1), pp. 65-83. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM12021
Cautionary considerations for positive dingo management: a response to the Johnson and Ritchie critique of Fleming et al. (2012)
Fleming, Peter J. S., Allen, Benjamin L. and Ballard, Guy-Anthony. 2013. "Cautionary considerations for positive dingo management: a response to the Johnson and Ritchie critique of Fleming et al. (2012)." Australian Mammalogy. 35 (1), pp. 15-22. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM12036
As clear as mud: a critical review of evidence for the ecological roles of Australian dingoes
Allen, Benjamin L., Fleming, Peter J. S., Allen, Lee R., Engeman, Richard M., Ballard, Guy and Leung, Luke K.-P.. 2013. "As clear as mud: a critical review of evidence for the ecological roles of Australian dingoes." Biological Conservation. 159 (March), pp. 158-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2012.12.004
Does lethal control of top-predators release mesopredators? A re-evaluation of three Australian case studies
Allen, Benjamin L., Lundie-Jenkins, Geoff, Burrows, Neil D., Engeman, Richard M., Fleming, Peter J. S. and Leung, Luke K.-P.. 2014. "Does lethal control of top-predators release mesopredators? A re-evaluation of three Australian case studies." Ecological Management and Restoration. 15 (3), pp. 191-195. https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.12118
Management of wild canids in Australia: free-ranging dogs and red foxes
Fleming, Peter J. S., Allen, Ben L., Allen, Lee R., Ballard, Guy A., Bengsen, Andrew, Gentle, Matt, McLeod, Lynette, Meek, Paul and Saunders, Glen. 2014. "Management of wild canids in Australia: free-ranging dogs and red foxes." Glen, A. S. and Dickman, C. R. (ed.) Carnivores of Australia: past, present and future. Australia. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 107-152