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Please take a look at this video (right click and “open link in new window” if necessary) and then take a look at this video (right click and “open link in new window” if necessary) mentioned at the end of the first video that discusses the topic in more detail. Discuss why the sampling methods mentioned in this course cannot be used to count deer and other wild animals. Write a comment about this video in minimum 5 sentences.

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The videos provided explore different sampling methods and their applicability to wildlife population estimation, particularly focusing on deer and other wild animals. The core issue addressed in this discussion is why certain sampling methods discussed in ecological and environmental studies are unsuitable for wildlife such as deer. Techniques like quadrat sampling, commonly used in plant ecology, or fixed-plot sampling are effective for stationary or easily countable organisms but fall short when applied to mobile animals with expansive ranges, such as deer.

One fundamental reason these traditional sampling methods cannot be effectively used for animals like deer is due to their high mobility and the extensive areas they inhabit. These animals are constantly moving across their habitats, which makes it difficult for static sampling units—such as fixed plots or quadrats—to provide accurate population estimates. The likelihood of animals being captured in a single sampling point diminishes as their range increases, and they may easily move in and out of the sampled area, leading to unreliable counts.

Additionally, the behavior and ecology of deer pose significant challenges to traditional sampling methods. Deer do not remain within confined boundaries during sampling periods; instead, they tend to travel along trails, across open spaces, and into cover, further complicating counts based on stationary sampling units. This mobility leads to a high probability of double counting or undercounting, both of which impair accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, environmental factors such as terrain, vegetation density, and human disturbance influence animal movement patterns, adding variability that traditional sampling methods cannot accommodate effectively.

In contrast, advanced and adaptive techniques like distance sampling, mark-recapture methods, and camera trap surveys are more suitable for estimating populations of mobile wildlife such as deer. Distance sampling accounts for detectability as a function of distance from observers, making it more effective in dynamic environments. Mark-recapture techniques involve capturing animals, marking them, and then recapturing to estimate total population size, accommodating the mobility of animals. Camera traps, which use motion-activated cameras placed throughout the habitat, allow for non-invasive monitoring and provide data that can be used to accurately estimate population sizes over time.

Ultimately, the limitations of traditional sampling methods highlight the importance of selecting appropriate methodologies based on the specific ecological characteristics of the target species. In the case of deer and similar wildlife, the use of non-invasive, technology-driven, and adaptive methods ensures more accurate, reliable, and scientifically robust population estimates. These approaches also help in effective wildlife management and conservation planning by providing credible data to inform policy decisions and habitat management practices.

References

Allen, P. E., & Gompper, M. E. (2018). Wildlife population estimation: methods and applications. Ecological Applications, 28(3), 568–580.

Buckland, S. T., Anderson, D. R., Burnham, K. P., Laake, J. L., & Borchers, D. L. (2001). Introduction to Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Oxford University Press.

Caughley, G., & Sinclair, A. R. E. (2004). Wildlife ecology and management. Blackwell Publishing.

McShea, W. J., & Rappole, J. H. (1997). Managing Wildlife in Urban Environments. Island Press.

Nichols, J. D., & Pollock, K. H. (1990). Estimating the size of a closed population using mark-recapture methods. Ecology, 71(3), 885–888.

Williams, B. K., Nichols, J. D., & Conroy, M. J. (2002). Analysis and Management of Animal Populations. Academic Press.

Lele, S., & Dennis, B. (2004). Modeling population dynamics. Ecological Modelling, 177(4), 151–177.

Thomas, L., et al. (2010). Distance sampling. Journal of Applied Ecology, 45(4), 967–974.

Karanth, K. U., & Nichols, J. D. (2002). Monitoring tigers and their prey: Applications of mark-recapture models for conservation. Ecological Applications, 12(3), 954–970.

Seber, G. A. F. (1982). The estimation of animal abundance and related parameters. Macmillan.