Application of the random encounter model in citizen science projects to monitor animal densities

Schaus, J., Uzal, A. ORCID: 0000-0001-6478-1895, Gentle, L. ORCID: 0000-0003-4864-5775, Baker, P.J., Bearman-Brown, L., Bullion, S., Gazzard, A., Lockwood, H., North, A., Reader, T., Scott, D.M. ORCID: 0000-0002-9570-2739, Sutherland, C.S. and Yarnell, R. ORCID: 0000-0001-6584-7374, 2020. Application of the random encounter model in citizen science projects to monitor animal densities. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 6 (4), pp. 514-528. ISSN 2056-3485

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Abstract

Abundance and density are vital metrics for assessing a species’ conservation status and for developing effective management strategies. Remote-sensing cameras are being used increasingly as part of citizen science projects to monitor wildlife, but current methodologies to monitor densities pose challenges when animals are not individually recognisable. We investigate the use of camera traps and the Random Encounter Model (REM) for estimating the density of West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) within a citizen science framework. We evaluate the use of a simplified version of the REM in terms of the parameters’ estimation (averaged versus survey-specific) and asses it’s potential application as part of a large-scale, long-term citizen science project. We compare averaged REM estimates to those obtained via Spatial Capture-Recapture (SCR) using data from nocturnal spotlight surveys. There was a high degree of concordance in REM-derived density estimates from averaged parameters versus those derived from survey-specific parameters. Averaged REM density estimates were also comparable to those produced by SCR at 8 out of 9 sites; hedgehog density was 7.5 times higher in urban (32.3 km-2) versus rural (4.3 km2) sites. Power analyses indicated that the averaged REM approach would be able to detect a 25% change in hedgehog density in both habitats with >90% power. Furthermore, despite the high start-up costs associated with the REM method, it would be cost-effective in the long term. The averaged REM approach is a promising solution to the challenge of large-scale and long-term species monitoring. We suggest including the REM as part of a citizen science monitoring project, where participants collect data and researchers verify and implement the required analysis.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation
Creators:	Schaus, J., Uzal, A., Gentle, L., Baker, P.J., Bearman-Brown, L., Bullion, S., Gazzard, A., Lockwood, H., North, A., Reader, T., Scott, D.M., Sutherland, C.S. and Yarnell, R.
Publisher:	Wiley Open Access
Date:	December 2020
Volume:	6
Number:	4
ISSN:	2056-3485
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1002/rse2.153 DOI 1308327 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	24 Mar 2020 11:50
Last Modified:	14 Dec 2021 08:18
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/39457

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