1. Assessing Small Mammal Abundance with Track-Tube Indices and Mark–Recapture Population Estimates
- Author
-
Andrew S. Wiewel, Marsha A. Sovada, and William R. Clark
- Subjects
Ecology ,biology ,Prediction interval ,Sampling (statistics) ,Regression analysis ,biology.organism_classification ,Regression ,Mark and recapture ,Abundance (ecology) ,Genetics ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Physical geography ,Species richness ,Microtus ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Nature and Landscape Conservation - Abstract
We compared track-tube sampling with mark–recapture livetrapping and evaluated a track-tube index, defined as the number of track tubes with identifiable small mammal tracks during a 4-night period, as a predictor of small mammal abundance estimates in North Dakota grasslands. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were the most commonly recorded species by both methods, but were underrepresented in track-tube sampling, whereas 13-lined ground squirrels (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) and Franklin’s ground squirrels (S. franklinii) were overrepresented in track-tube sampling. Estimates of average species richness were lower from track tubes than from livetrapping. Regression models revealed that the track-tube index was at best a moderately good predictor of small mammal population estimates because both the form (linear versus curvilinear) and slope of the relationship varied between years. In addition, 95% prediction intervals indicated low precision when predicting population estimates from new track-tube index observations. Track tubes required less time and expense than mark–recapture and eliminated handling of small mammals. Using track tubes along with mark–recapture in a double sampling for regression framework would have potential value when attempting to estimate abundance of small mammals over large areas.
- Published
- 2007