Sampling design and its effect on population monitoring: How much monitoring do turtles really need?

摘要: Marine turtles are a taxon of world-wide conservation concern. Effective long-term monitoring is hampered by the fact that populations widely dispersed except during breeding season. Thus most programmes focus on nesting beaches, necessitating resource intensive studies, often over months, could conceivably, be less comprehensive and more parsimonious sampling. We analyse 11 years exhaustive data for two species Mediterranean marine (Chelonia mydas Caretta caretta). resample using variety plausible sub-sampling regimens to estimate total annual population. project our dataset into future applying range population change rates explore how adopting programme based would, example, affect ability detect decline. show accurate estimates can achieved with as few 14 days survey effort providing spans peak nesting. Furthermore, modelled impact sampling-based suggests duration not increased greatly. Our findings have implications all turtle applicability other animal groups. It considered desirable perform monitoring, aversion basing policy recommendations partial data. However, programmes, particularly in developing nations, although presenting number advantages, impossible. Accurate censuses through without sacrificing changes trends time. In this solid block at least 3 weeks sampling encompasses season advised.