Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings
Pinnipeds are commonly monitored using aerial photographic surveys at land- or ice-based sites, where animals come ashore for resting, pupping, molting, and to avoid predators. Although these counts form the basis for monitoring population change over time, they do not provide information regarding...
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ftunivnebraskali:oai:digitalcommons.unl.edu:natlpark-1221 2023-11-12T04:17:25+01:00 Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings Whitlock, Steven L. Womble, Jamie N. Peterson, James T. 2020-02-09T08:00:00Z application/pdf https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/221 https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/natlpark/article/1221/viewcontent/Whitlock_EM_2020_Modelling_pinniped.pdf unknown DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/221 https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/natlpark/article/1221/viewcontent/Whitlock_EM_2020_Modelling_pinniped.pdf U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers Hierarchical model Opportunistic sightings Species distribution model Pinniped Steller sea lion Attendance probability Environmental Education Environmental Policy Environmental Sciences Environmental Studies Fire Science and Firefighting Leisure Studies Natural Resource Economics Natural Resources Management and Policy Nature and Society Relations Other Environmental Sciences Physical and Environmental Geography Public Administration Public Affairs Public Policy and Public Administration Recreation Parks and Tourism Administration text 2020 ftunivnebraskali 2023-10-30T09:57:40Z Pinnipeds are commonly monitored using aerial photographic surveys at land- or ice-based sites, where animals come ashore for resting, pupping, molting, and to avoid predators. Although these counts form the basis for monitoring population change over time, they do not provide information regarding where animals occur in the water, which is often of management and conservation interest. In this study, we developed a hierarchical model that links counts of pinnipeds at terrestrial sites to sightings-at-sea and estimates abundance, spatial distribution, and the proportion of time spent on land (attendance probability). The structure of the model also allows for the inclusion of predictors that may explain variation in ecological and observation processes. We applied the model to Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Glacier Bay, Alaska using counts of sea lions from aerial photographic surveys and opportunistic in-water sightings from vessel surveys. Glacier Bay provided an ideal test and application of the model because data are available on attendance probability based on long-term monitoring. We found that occurrence in the water was positively related to proximity to terrestrial sites, as would be expected for a species that engages in central-place foraging. The proportion of sea lions in attendance at terrestrial sites and overall abundance estimates were consistent with reports from the literature and monitoring programs. The model we describe has benefit and utility for park managers who wish to better understand the overlap between pinnipeds and visitors, and the framework that we present has potential for application across a variety of study systems and taxa. Text glacier Alaska University of Nebraska-Lincoln: DigitalCommons@UNL Glacier Bay |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln: DigitalCommons@UNL |
op_collection_id |
ftunivnebraskali |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Hierarchical model Opportunistic sightings Species distribution model Pinniped Steller sea lion Attendance probability Environmental Education Environmental Policy Environmental Sciences Environmental Studies Fire Science and Firefighting Leisure Studies Natural Resource Economics Natural Resources Management and Policy Nature and Society Relations Other Environmental Sciences Physical and Environmental Geography Public Administration Public Affairs Public Policy and Public Administration Recreation Parks and Tourism Administration |
spellingShingle |
Hierarchical model Opportunistic sightings Species distribution model Pinniped Steller sea lion Attendance probability Environmental Education Environmental Policy Environmental Sciences Environmental Studies Fire Science and Firefighting Leisure Studies Natural Resource Economics Natural Resources Management and Policy Nature and Society Relations Other Environmental Sciences Physical and Environmental Geography Public Administration Public Affairs Public Policy and Public Administration Recreation Parks and Tourism Administration Whitlock, Steven L. Womble, Jamie N. Peterson, James T. Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings |
topic_facet |
Hierarchical model Opportunistic sightings Species distribution model Pinniped Steller sea lion Attendance probability Environmental Education Environmental Policy Environmental Sciences Environmental Studies Fire Science and Firefighting Leisure Studies Natural Resource Economics Natural Resources Management and Policy Nature and Society Relations Other Environmental Sciences Physical and Environmental Geography Public Administration Public Affairs Public Policy and Public Administration Recreation Parks and Tourism Administration |
description |
Pinnipeds are commonly monitored using aerial photographic surveys at land- or ice-based sites, where animals come ashore for resting, pupping, molting, and to avoid predators. Although these counts form the basis for monitoring population change over time, they do not provide information regarding where animals occur in the water, which is often of management and conservation interest. In this study, we developed a hierarchical model that links counts of pinnipeds at terrestrial sites to sightings-at-sea and estimates abundance, spatial distribution, and the proportion of time spent on land (attendance probability). The structure of the model also allows for the inclusion of predictors that may explain variation in ecological and observation processes. We applied the model to Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Glacier Bay, Alaska using counts of sea lions from aerial photographic surveys and opportunistic in-water sightings from vessel surveys. Glacier Bay provided an ideal test and application of the model because data are available on attendance probability based on long-term monitoring. We found that occurrence in the water was positively related to proximity to terrestrial sites, as would be expected for a species that engages in central-place foraging. The proportion of sea lions in attendance at terrestrial sites and overall abundance estimates were consistent with reports from the literature and monitoring programs. The model we describe has benefit and utility for park managers who wish to better understand the overlap between pinnipeds and visitors, and the framework that we present has potential for application across a variety of study systems and taxa. |
format |
Text |
author |
Whitlock, Steven L. Womble, Jamie N. Peterson, James T. |
author_facet |
Whitlock, Steven L. Womble, Jamie N. Peterson, James T. |
author_sort |
Whitlock, Steven L. |
title |
Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings |
title_short |
Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings |
title_full |
Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings |
title_fullStr |
Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings |
title_full_unstemmed |
Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at T terrestrial sites and in-water sightings |
title_sort |
modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at t terrestrial sites and in-water sightings |
publisher |
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/221 https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/natlpark/article/1221/viewcontent/Whitlock_EM_2020_Modelling_pinniped.pdf |
geographic |
Glacier Bay |
geographic_facet |
Glacier Bay |
genre |
glacier Alaska |
genre_facet |
glacier Alaska |
op_source |
U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/221 https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/natlpark/article/1221/viewcontent/Whitlock_EM_2020_Modelling_pinniped.pdf |
_version_ |
1782334315915378688 |