Estimating the abundance of rare and elusive carnivores from photographic-sampling data when the population size is very small

摘要: Conservation and management agencies require accurate precise estimates of abundance when considering the status a species need for directed actions. Due to proliferation remote sampling cameras, there has been an increase in capture–recapture studies that estimate rare and/or elusive using closed estimators (C–R). However, data from these often do not meet necessary statistical assumptions. Common attributes are (1) infrequent detections, (2) small number individuals detected, (3) long survey durations, (4) variability detection among individuals. We believe is guidance analyzing this type sparse data. highlight limitations C–R suggest alternative approach over conventional use Jackknife estimator. Our aims maximize probability detected at least once entire period, thus making modeling process irrelevant, estimating accurately precisely. simulations demonstrate unconditional-likelihood M0 (constant probability) estimator with profile-likelihood confidence intervals provides reliable results even varies by individual. If each individual population on average 2.5 times, precise. When sample same multiple areas or area time, we sharing information across datasets precision abundance. The suggested here should be useful monitoring populations difficult detect.