USING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA

Abstract: We evaluated population estimation techniques for Gould's turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in southeastern Arizona. The Huachuca Mountain population of Gould's turkeys could be used as a source to further restoration efforts, but due to its unknown population size, we had c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shelli A. Dubay, Brian F. Wakeling, Timothy D. Rogers, Susan R. Boe, Michael J. Rabe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2005-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00291.x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849735374355562496
author Shelli A. Dubay
Brian F. Wakeling
Timothy D. Rogers
Susan R. Boe
Michael J. Rabe
author_facet Shelli A. Dubay
Brian F. Wakeling
Timothy D. Rogers
Susan R. Boe
Michael J. Rabe
author_sort Shelli A. Dubay
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: We evaluated population estimation techniques for Gould's turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in southeastern Arizona. The Huachuca Mountain population of Gould's turkeys could be used as a source to further restoration efforts, but due to its unknown population size, we had concerns regarding overexploiting a limited population. Because these turkeys are limited in range within the United States and occupy isolated mountain ranges in Arizona (i.e., closed population), these Gould's turkeys provide a unique opportunity to compare and contrast techniques for estimating population size. Our study population in the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, was reestablished following extirpation with the release of 9 and 12 turkeys in 1983 and 1987, respectively. We baited and trapped Gould's turkeys during winter 2000, 2001, and 2002 and affixed each bird with a radiotag and patagial wing markers. We used photographs taken with remotely activated cameras in 5 canyons in March and April 2002 as remarks. We used the joint hypergeometric maximum likelihood estimator from the NOREMARK computer program to estimate population size using number of known marked birds in the population and number of marked and unmarked birds photographed during each sampling period. We then extrapolated this estimate from 5 canyons to the entire mountain range and compared this estimate to that from a walking survey. Estimates included 84 (95% CI = 80–91) for the area within the 5 canyons sampled, 286 (range = 272–306) when the estimate was extrapolated to the entire mountain range, and 203 (range = 110–296) for the ground survey. The photographic technique yielded more precise estimates than the ground survey, but the photographic method required approximately twice as many hours to conduct. Decisions on methods selected for future surveys should be based on management requirements.
format Article
id doaj-art-7a1dbfd6dffc4bf1bf386a52300947ac
institution DOAJ
issn 2328-5540
language English
publishDate 2005-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Wildlife Society Bulletin
spelling doaj-art-7a1dbfd6dffc4bf1bf386a52300947ac2025-08-20T03:07:34ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S1455010.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00291.xUSING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONAShelli A. Dubay0Brian F. Wakeling1Timothy D. Rogers2Susan R. Boe3Michael J. Rabe4Research Branch Arizona Game and Fish Department2221 West Greenway RoadPhoenixAZ85023USAGame BranchArizona Game and Fish Department2221 West Greenway RoadPhoenixAZ85023USAResearch Branch Arizona Game and Fish Department2221 West Greenway RoadPhoenixAZ85023USAResearch Branch Arizona Game and Fish Department2221 West Greenway RoadPhoenixAZ85023USAGame BranchArizona Game and Fish Department2221 West Greenway RoadPhoenixAZ85023USAAbstract: We evaluated population estimation techniques for Gould's turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in southeastern Arizona. The Huachuca Mountain population of Gould's turkeys could be used as a source to further restoration efforts, but due to its unknown population size, we had concerns regarding overexploiting a limited population. Because these turkeys are limited in range within the United States and occupy isolated mountain ranges in Arizona (i.e., closed population), these Gould's turkeys provide a unique opportunity to compare and contrast techniques for estimating population size. Our study population in the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, was reestablished following extirpation with the release of 9 and 12 turkeys in 1983 and 1987, respectively. We baited and trapped Gould's turkeys during winter 2000, 2001, and 2002 and affixed each bird with a radiotag and patagial wing markers. We used photographs taken with remotely activated cameras in 5 canyons in March and April 2002 as remarks. We used the joint hypergeometric maximum likelihood estimator from the NOREMARK computer program to estimate population size using number of known marked birds in the population and number of marked and unmarked birds photographed during each sampling period. We then extrapolated this estimate from 5 canyons to the entire mountain range and compared this estimate to that from a walking survey. Estimates included 84 (95% CI = 80–91) for the area within the 5 canyons sampled, 286 (range = 272–306) when the estimate was extrapolated to the entire mountain range, and 203 (range = 110–296) for the ground survey. The photographic technique yielded more precise estimates than the ground survey, but the photographic method required approximately twice as many hours to conduct. Decisions on methods selected for future surveys should be based on management requirements.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00291.xArizonaGould's turkeymark‐resightMeleagris gallopavo mexicanaNOREMARKpopulation estimation
spellingShingle Shelli A. Dubay
Brian F. Wakeling
Timothy D. Rogers
Susan R. Boe
Michael J. Rabe
USING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
Wildlife Society Bulletin
Arizona
Gould's turkey
mark‐resight
Meleagris gallopavo mexicana
NOREMARK
population estimation
title USING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
title_full USING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
title_fullStr USING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
title_full_unstemmed USING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
title_short USING REMOTE CAMERAS FOR POPULATION ESTIMATION OF GOULD'S TURKEYS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
title_sort using remote cameras for population estimation of gould s turkeys in southeastern arizona
topic Arizona
Gould's turkey
mark‐resight
Meleagris gallopavo mexicana
NOREMARK
population estimation
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00291.x
work_keys_str_mv AT shelliadubay usingremotecamerasforpopulationestimationofgouldsturkeysinsoutheasternarizona
AT brianfwakeling usingremotecamerasforpopulationestimationofgouldsturkeysinsoutheasternarizona
AT timothydrogers usingremotecamerasforpopulationestimationofgouldsturkeysinsoutheasternarizona
AT susanrboe usingremotecamerasforpopulationestimationofgouldsturkeysinsoutheasternarizona
AT michaeljrabe usingremotecamerasforpopulationestimationofgouldsturkeysinsoutheasternarizona