Integration of mark–recapture and acoustic detections for unbiased population estimation in animal communities

Jarrett, C., Haydon, D. T. , Morales, J. M. , Ferreira, D. F., Forzi, F. A., Welch, A. J., Powell, L. L. and Matthiopoulos, J. (2022) Integration of mark–recapture and acoustic detections for unbiased population estimation in animal communities. Ecology, 103(10), e3769. (doi: 10.1002/ecy.3769) (PMID:35620844)

Abstract

Abundance estimation methods that combine several types of data are becoming increasingly common because they yield more accurate and precise parameter estimates and predictions than are possible from a single data source. These beneficial effects result from increasing sample size (through data pooling) and complementarity between different data types. Here, we test whether integrating mark–recapture data with passive acoustic detections into a joint likelihood improves estimates of population size in a multi-guild community. We compared the integrated model to a mark–recapture-only model using simulated data first and then using a dataset of mist-net captures and acoustic recordings from an Afrotropical agroforest bird community. The integrated model with simulated data improved accuracy and precision of estimated population size and detection parameters. When applied to field data, the integrated model was able to produce, for each bird guild, ecologically plausible estimates of population size and detection parameters, with more precision compared with the mark–recapture model. Overall, our results show that adding acoustic data to mark–recapture analyses improves estimates of population size. With the increasing availability of acoustic recording devices, this data collection technique could readily be added to routine field protocols, leading to a cost-efficient improvement of traditional mark–recapture population estimation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Powell, Dr Luke and Matthiopoulos, Professor Jason and Jarrett, Ms Crinan and Morales, Professor Juan and Haydon, Professor Daniel
• Authors: Jarrett, C., Haydon, D. T., Morales, J. M., Ferreira, D. F., Forzi, F. A., Welch, A. J., Powell, L. L., and Matthiopoulos, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Ecology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0012-9658
• ISSN (Online): 1939-9170
• Published Online: 27 May 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Ecology 103(10): e3769
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.15825111.v1

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
301897		CHOCOLATE4LIFE	Jason Matthiopoulos	European Commission (EC)	797203	Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine