Estimating snowshoe hare population density from pellet plots: a further evaluation

摘要: We counted fecal pellets of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) once a year in 10 areas the southwestern Yukon from 1987 to 1996. Pellets eighty 0.155-m2 quadrats were and cleared each June on all areas, we correlated these counts with estimates absolute hare density obtained by intensive mark–recapture methods same areas. There is strong relationship between pellet population (r = 0.76), present predictive log–log regression quantify this relationship, which improves our previously published regression, particularly at low densities. The precision can be improved most easily increasing number sets an area (one set 80 plots), rather than plots within one set. important question remaining concerns generality for living other habitats eastern southern portions their geographic range.