A hybrid double-observer sightability model for aerial surveys

• Published in: The Journal of wildlife management 2013-11, Vol.77 (8), p.1532-1544
• Main Authors: Griffin, Paul C., Lubow, Bruce C., Jenkins, Kurt J., Vales, David J., Moeller, Barbara J., Reid, Mason, Happe, Patricia J., Mccorquodale, Scott M., Tirhi, Michelle J., Schaberl, Jim P., Beirne, Katherine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aerial survey; Aerial surveying; Aerial surveys; Animal populations; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; Cervus elaphus; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; double-observer; Elk; Elks; Estimation bias; Flight paths; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects. Techniques; Group size; Helicopters; Heterogeneity; heterogeneity bias; Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...); Mount Rainier; National parks; Parametric models; Population Ecology; Population estimates; sightability model; Telemetry; Vegetation; Vegetation cover; Wildlife; Wildlife management
• ISSN: 0022-541X; 1937-2817
• DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.612

Raw counts from aerial surveys make no correction for undetected animals and provide no estimate of precision with which to judge the utility of the counts. Sightability modeling and double-observer (DO) modeling are 2 commonly used approaches to account for detection bias and to estimate precision in aerial surveys. We developed a hybrid DO sightability model (model MH) that uses the strength of each approach to overcome the weakness in the other, for aerial surveys of elk (Cervus elaphus). The hybrid approach uses detection patterns of 2 independent observer pairs in a helicopter and telemetry-based detections of collared elk groups. Candidate MH models reflected hypotheses about effects of recorded covariates and unmodeled heterogeneity on the separate front-seat observer pair and back-seat observer pair detection probabilities. Group size and concealing vegetation cover strongly influenced detection probabilities. The pilot's previous experience participating in aerial surveys influenced detection by the front pair of observers if the elk group was on the pilot's side of the helicopter flight path. In 9 surveys in Mount Rainier National Park, the raw number of elk counted was approximately 80–93% of the abundance estimated by model MH. Uncorrected ratios of bulls per 100 cows generally were low compared to estimates adjusted for detection bias, but ratios of calves per 100 cows were comparable whether based on raw survey counts or adjusted estimates. The hybrid method was an improvement over commonly used alternatives, with improved precision compared to sightability modeling and reduced bias compared to DO modeling.