Monitoring Species of Concern Using Noninvasive Genetic Sampling and Capture-Recapture Methods
Abstract
The primary objective of project RC-201205 was to demonstrate how noninvasive genetic sampling (NGS) could be combined with capture-recapture modeling (NGS-CR) to evaluate the status of species of conservation concern. A secondary objective was to demonstrate the combination of NGS with occupancy modeling (NGS-OM) to estimate the proportion of area occupied (i.e., occupancy) and patterns of local extinction and colonization. The researchers evaluated the efficacy of NGS as a viable, long-term monitoring approach for two species on the Department of Defense (DoD) installations: the kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) (Dugway Proving Ground [DPG]), a species of concern for western installations, and Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) (Barry M. Goldwater Range [BMGR]), an endangered subspecies of North American pronghorn that occurs in southern Arizona. For both species, researchers developed a spatio-temporal sampling design for acquiring noninvasive genetic data (via fecal scats), genotyped samples for individual ID, analyzed genotypes with capture-recapture methods to obtain estimates of population parameters, and developed a protocol for long-term monitoring in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1025151
Entities
People
- Lisette P. Waits
- Robert C Lonsinger
- Susannah P. Woodruff
Organizations
- University of Idaho