Use of aerial survey and aerophotogrammetry methods in monitoring manatee populations

摘要: We evaluated the use of strip-transect survey methods for manatees through a series replicate aerial surveys in Banana River, Brevard County, Florida, during summer 1993 and summer 1994. Transect sample a representative portion of the total study area, thus allowing statistical extrapolation to area. Other advantages transect are less flight time cost than coverage, ease of navigation, reduced likelihood double-counting. Our objectives were: (1) identify visibility biases associated with transect survey method adjust counts accordingly; (2) derive population estimate with known variance River during summer; (3) evaluate the potential value this monitoring trends manatee size over time. (51 page document)