estimatingwildlifedensitiesfromlinetransectsurveys（20页）.docVIP

Richard B. Harris Wildlife Biology Program University of Montana Missoula, Montana 59812 1-406-542-6399 rharris@ On estimating wildlife densities from line transect data Richard B. Harris, University of Montana, Missoula, MT USA 59812 Kenneth P. Burnham, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA 80523 [English version: Published in Acta Zoological Sinica (动物学报)] 48: 812-818 (2002) Abstract: Line transects are one of the best ways to estimate density of wildlife populations over large areas. However, density estimates will be unreliable if using mathematical procedures that, although simple and easy to use, do not correspond with reality. We argue here that using a na?ve estimator, in which the mean of observed perpendicular distances are equated with effective strip width, is unlikely to yield reliable results. If conducted correctly, density estimates using this equation will most often be too high. Instead, we urge investigators to use program DISTANCE, and to familiarize themselves with the underlying theory, by reading Buckland et al. (1993). Key words: density estimation, detection function, Fourier series, line transect, negative exponential distribution, program DISTANCE ________________________________________________________________ Acta Zoological Sinica (动物学报) 00:000-000 It is now well known that estimating the abundance of wildlife populations is fraught with difficulties. As pointed out by Sheng and Xu (1992), line transect methods are among the best for medium and large-sized animals when estimation on large-sized areas is required. Thus, the line transect method has increasingly become used by Chinese wildlife scientists (e.g., Liu and Yi 1993, State Forestry Administration 1995, Gao and Yao 1997). However, even this method can produce unreliable results if critical assumptions are violated in the field, and/or if inappropriate mathematical analyses are applied afterwards. It is worthwhile reviewing the underlying assumptions