Estimating North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) density using passive acoustic cue counting

We present a method for estimating animal density from fixed passive acoustic detectors, and illustrate it by estimating the density of North Pacific right whales Eubalaena japonica in the areas surrounding 3 hydrophones deployed in the southeastern Bering Sea in 2001 to 2002 and 2005 to 2006. Input...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Endangered Species Research
Main Authors: Marques, Tiago Andre Lamas Oliveira, Munger, Lisa, Thomas, Len, Wiggins, Sean, Hildebrand, John
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Bering Sea
Point transects
Distance sampling
Normal mode propagation
Abundance estimation
Acoustic recording package
ARP
High frequency acoustic package
HARP
Pacific
Sea Point
Eubalaena japonica
North Pacific right whale
Online Access:https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/estimating-north-pacific-right-whale-eubalaena-japonica-density-using-passive-acoustic-cue-counting(b41d8279-1978-4f1c-bebd-5c8bc9f32f99).html
https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00325
Description
Summary:We present a method for estimating animal density from fixed passive acoustic detectors, and illustrate it by estimating the density of North Pacific right whales Eubalaena japonica in the areas surrounding 3 hydrophones deployed in the southeastern Bering Sea in 2001 to 2002 and 2005 to 2006. Input data were the distances to detected right whale calls, estimated using a normal mode sound propagation model, and call production rate, estimated from encounters by survey vessels with right whale groups. Given the scarcity of information about this highly endangered species, we also extrapolate our results to provide a tentative estimate of the total population size in shelf waters of the eastern Bering Sea. This gives a point estimate of 25 animals (CV 29.1%; 95% confidence interval 13–47), which agrees well with what little is known for this species. We discuss the assumptions underlying the method. Obtaining more reliable values requires a larger sample of randomly located hydrophones, together with improved estimates of call rate.

Similar Items