Evaluation of counting methods for monitoring populations of a cryptic alpine passerine, the rock wren (Passeriformes, Acanthisittidae, Xenicus gilviventris).

摘要: Developing and validating methods to determine trends in populations of threatened species is essential for evaluating the effectiveness conservation interventions. For cryptic inhabiting remote environments, this can be particularly challenging. Rock wrens, Xenicus gilviventris, are small passerines endemic alpine zone southern New Zealand. They highly vulnerable predation by introduced mammalian predators. Establishing a robust, cost-effective monitoring tool evaluate population rock wrens priority both and, more broadly, as part suite indicators management Zealand's ecosystems. We assessed relative accuracy precision three estimation techniques (mark-resight, distance sampling simple counts on line transects) two Southern Alps over six breeding seasons (2012-2018). The performance these estimators was compared known wren size derived from simultaneous territory mapping. Indices abundance transects were correlated with mapping at study areas, performed better than either mark-resight or sampling. Simple standardised method birds because they do not require banding population. As such, we recommend that transect using design outlined paper adopted standard long-term populations. Although species-specific testing required validate use low-cost indices, our results may have utility other relatively open habitats.