Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies
Visual markers are frequently used in wildlife studies to identify individual animals and to track their behaviour (including movement) and survival. These markers are useful because identification can be made without recapturing individuals, thus minimizing disturbance. However, studies have shown...
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Pacific Seabird Group
2008
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ftmemorialuniv:oai:research.library.mun.ca:568 2023-10-01T03:49:56+02:00 Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies Lavers, Jennifer L. Jones, Ian L. 2008 application/pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/568/ https://research.library.mun.ca/568/1/assessing_type_frequency.pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/568/3/assessing_type_frequency.pdf http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/36_1/36_1_19-23.pdf en eng Pacific Seabird Group https://research.library.mun.ca/568/1/assessing_type_frequency.pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/568/3/assessing_type_frequency.pdf Lavers, Jennifer L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lavers=3AJennifer_L=2E=3A=3A.html> and Jones, Ian L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Jones=3AIan_L=2E=3A=3A.html> (2008) Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies. Marine Ornithology, 36 (1). pp. 19-23. ISSN 2074-1235 cc_by_nc QH301 Biology Article PeerReviewed 2008 ftmemorialuniv 2023-09-03T06:43:56Z Visual markers are frequently used in wildlife studies to identify individual animals and to track their behaviour (including movement) and survival. These markers are useful because identification can be made without recapturing individuals, thus minimizing disturbance. However, studies have shown that errors associated with reading and recording markers adversely influence the estimation of population parameters. Using the example of triangular field-readable leg bands on Razorbill Alca torda, we developed a simple experimental protocol for quantifying band resighting error rates and identifying trends in digit misidentifications. The resighting error rate varied from 0.035 to 0.134 depending on observer distance and conditions under which the bands were read. Misidentification of the digits 3 and 5 accounted for more than 48% of all errors made. In our study, 94% of all misread bands corresponded to a valid entry in the banding data base (i.e. misread numbers coincidentally referred to other banded birds), probably because more than 12 000 Razorbills have been banded from one long sequence of band numbers between 1980 and 2007. We conclude that band reading error is a neglected phenomenon that has likely had profound effects on the accuracy of survival studies, and we provide suggestions for minimizing the frequency of such errors. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alca torda Razorbill Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository |
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Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository |
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ftmemorialuniv |
language |
English |
topic |
QH301 Biology |
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QH301 Biology Lavers, Jennifer L. Jones, Ian L. Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies |
topic_facet |
QH301 Biology |
description |
Visual markers are frequently used in wildlife studies to identify individual animals and to track their behaviour (including movement) and survival. These markers are useful because identification can be made without recapturing individuals, thus minimizing disturbance. However, studies have shown that errors associated with reading and recording markers adversely influence the estimation of population parameters. Using the example of triangular field-readable leg bands on Razorbill Alca torda, we developed a simple experimental protocol for quantifying band resighting error rates and identifying trends in digit misidentifications. The resighting error rate varied from 0.035 to 0.134 depending on observer distance and conditions under which the bands were read. Misidentification of the digits 3 and 5 accounted for more than 48% of all errors made. In our study, 94% of all misread bands corresponded to a valid entry in the banding data base (i.e. misread numbers coincidentally referred to other banded birds), probably because more than 12 000 Razorbills have been banded from one long sequence of band numbers between 1980 and 2007. We conclude that band reading error is a neglected phenomenon that has likely had profound effects on the accuracy of survival studies, and we provide suggestions for minimizing the frequency of such errors. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lavers, Jennifer L. Jones, Ian L. |
author_facet |
Lavers, Jennifer L. Jones, Ian L. |
author_sort |
Lavers, Jennifer L. |
title |
Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies |
title_short |
Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies |
title_full |
Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies |
title_fullStr |
Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies |
title_sort |
assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for razorbill alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies |
publisher |
Pacific Seabird Group |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://research.library.mun.ca/568/ https://research.library.mun.ca/568/1/assessing_type_frequency.pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/568/3/assessing_type_frequency.pdf http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/36_1/36_1_19-23.pdf |
genre |
Alca torda Razorbill |
genre_facet |
Alca torda Razorbill |
op_relation |
https://research.library.mun.ca/568/1/assessing_type_frequency.pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/568/3/assessing_type_frequency.pdf Lavers, Jennifer L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lavers=3AJennifer_L=2E=3A=3A.html> and Jones, Ian L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Jones=3AIan_L=2E=3A=3A.html> (2008) Assessing the type and frequency of band resighting errors for Razorbill Alca torda with implications for other wildlife studies. Marine Ornithology, 36 (1). pp. 19-23. ISSN 2074-1235 |
op_rights |
cc_by_nc |
_version_ |
1778517189450530816 |