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Earth Signals and Systems Group

Informatics and Intelligent Systems for Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science

Estimating Abundance from Observations

Friday, October 4, 2019

Michael Barbehenn and Alton Barbehenn

Based on catch data from an open population of animal exposed to a grid of traps for several days, we can accurately & precisely estimate the population density (abundance). We assume animals are terrestrial (not water or air), individual (not herd), and mobile but not too mobile (e.g., mice not snails or leopard). Selecting an appropriate trap spacing is important. The appropriate trap spacing depends on intrinsic animal behavior. If it’s bad, it is clear and clear how to change it.