Occupancy and detectability modelling of vertebrates in northern Australia using multiple sampling methods.
| Title: | Occupancy and detectability modelling of vertebrates in northern Australia using multiple sampling methods. |
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| Authors: | Einoder LD; Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.; Southwell DM; Quantitive and Applied Ecology Group, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Lahoz-Monfort JJ; Quantitive and Applied Ecology Group, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Gillespie GR; Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.; Fisher A; Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.; Wintle BA; Quantitive and Applied Ecology Group, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. |
| Source: | PloS one [PLoS One] 2018 Sep 24; Vol. 13 (9), pp. e0203304. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Sep 24 (Print Publication: 2018). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science |
| MeSH Terms: | Vertebrates*; Environmental Monitoring/*methods; Environmental Monitoring/statistics & numerical data ; Population Dynamics/statistics & numerical data ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; Birds ; Circadian Rhythm ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecosystem ; Mammals ; Models, Biological ; Northern Territory ; Reptiles ; Sampling Studies ; Species Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires |
| Abstract: | Understanding where species occur and how difficult they are to detect during surveys is crucial for designing and evaluating monitoring programs, and has broader applications for conservation planning and management. In this study, we modelled occupancy and the effectiveness of six sampling methods at detecting vertebrates across the Top End of northern Australia. We fitted occupancy-detection models to 136 species (83 birds, 33 reptiles, 20 mammals) of 242 recorded during surveys of 333 sites in eight conservation reserves between 2011 and 2016. For modelled species, mean occupancy was highly variable: birds and reptiles ranged from 0.01-0.81 and 0.01-0.49, respectively, whereas mammal occupancy was lower, ranging from 0.02-0.30. Of the 11 environmental covariates considered as potential predictors of occupancy, topographic ruggedness, elevation, maximum temperature, and fire frequency were retained more readily in the top models. Using these models, we predicted species occupancy across the Top End of northern Australia (293,017 km2) and generated species richness maps for each species group. For mammals and reptiles, high richness was associated with rugged terrain, while bird richness was highest in coastal lowland woodlands. On average, detectability of diurnal birds was higher per day of surveys (0.33 ± 0.09) compared with nocturnal birds per night of spotlighting (0.13 ± 0.06). Detectability of reptiles was similar per day/night of pit trapping (0.30 ± 0.09) as per night of spotlighting (0.29 ± 0.11). On average, mammals were highly detectable using motion-sensor cameras for a week (0.36 ± 0.06), with exception of smaller-bodied species. One night of Elliott trapping (0.20 ± 0.06) and spotlighting (0.19 ± 0.06) was more effective at detecting mammals than cage (0.08 ± 0.03) and pit trapping (0.05 ± 0.04). Our estimates of species occupancy and detectability will help inform decisions about how best to redesign a long-running vertebrate monitoring program in the Top End of northern Australia. |
| Competing Interests: | The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. |
| Comments: | Erratum in: PLoS One. 2018 Oct 18;13(10):e0206373. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206373.. (PMID: 30335847) |
| References: | PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e43387. (PMID: 22937044); PLoS One. 2014 Oct 30;9(10):e111436. (PMID: 25356904); PLoS One. 2015 Jun 29;10(6):e0130721. (PMID: 26121581); PLoS One. 2015 Aug 19;10(8):e0133915. (PMID: 26288224) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20180925 Date Completed: 20190226 Latest Revision: 20190226 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC6152866 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0203304 |
| PMID: | 30248104 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't