作者: Allan J. Perkins , Chris J. Bingham , Mark Bolton
DOI: 10.1111/IBI.12539
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摘要: Accurate population estimates are important for monitoring the conservation status of species, but nocturnal burrow-nesting seabirds notoriously difficult to count. Storm petrel species (Hydrobatidae) particularly challenging, as burrow entrances indistinct and response rates playback low variable, leading imprecise poor ability detect trends. Playback is also labour intensive, requiring several days calibration trials determine site- year-specific rates. To test viability using infra-red digital video technology census storm petrels, we conducted a trial on European Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus at their largest UK colony, Mousa (Shetland). Hourly activity recorded from filming accurately predicted number Apparently Occupied Sites (AOS), this relationship was stronger in natural habitats (boulder-beach, rocks scree) than walls, where between-night variation high due variable image quality, flight behaviour around vertical structures. Few attempts failed completely, quality dark nights with rain or fog, deteriorated during season night-length increased. AOS density habitats, overestimated total walls by 38%. Simulations suggest that same fieldwork sampling effort, will generate slightly more precise playback. Better illumination floodlights would increase detection nights, probably resulting greater precision, large amount expensive equipment reviewing time required currently make costly inefficient relative However, recommend its use sites cannot otherwise be surveyed safely, disturbance concern. This article protected copyright. All rights reserved.