Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of California
In northern California, Roosevelt (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) and Rocky Mountain (C. c. nelsoni) elk occupy a wide variety of habitats over a large extent, including the Marble Mountains Elk Management Unit (MM EMU). Dense forest canopy and steep, mountainous terrain present significant challenge...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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California Department of Fish and Wildlife
2023-11-01
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| Series: | California Fish and Wildlife Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2023/11/21/utilizing-the-time-to-event-framework-to-estimate-elk-abundance-over-a-large-spatial-scale-in-the-klamath-mountains-of-california/ |
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| author | Sara Moriarty-Graves Erin Zulliger Thomas Batter Christine Found-Jackson |
| author_facet | Sara Moriarty-Graves Erin Zulliger Thomas Batter Christine Found-Jackson |
| author_sort | Sara Moriarty-Graves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In northern California, Roosevelt (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) and Rocky Mountain (C. c. nelsoni) elk occupy a wide variety of habitats over a large extent, including the Marble Mountains Elk Management Unit (MM EMU). Dense forest canopy and steep, mountainous terrain present significant challenges for monitoring elk populations using traditional aerial and ground-based methods. These constraints have resulted in inadequate spatial and temporal research and monitoring. To address the need for comprehensive and reliable elk abundance estimates, we implemented a landscape-level camera trap study within the MM EMU. We deployed 180 cameras and applied a time-to-event model to estimate elk abundance. This method uses the movement rate, area in front of each camera, and leverages the latency time to detection for a given species. Analysis yielded an estimate of 1,415 (95% CI: 1,044–1,919) elk across the management unit. Here, we present the use of a recently developed method to non-invasively estimate the abundance of unmarked elk at the landscape-level in northern California. Implementation of this method can provide reliable information to aid management decisions for the continued recreational, ecological, and economic benefits of elk and wildlife in general. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:09:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-34434a94d2064712bd769d5fdd603f20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2689-419X 2689-4203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:09:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| record_format | Article |
| series | California Fish and Wildlife Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-34434a94d2064712bd769d5fdd603f202023-11-29T14:51:08ZengCalifornia Department of Fish and WildlifeCalifornia Fish and Wildlife Journal2689-419X2689-42032023-11-01109310.51492/cfwj.109.10Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of CaliforniaSara Moriarty-Graves0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7409-2951Erin Zulliger1https://orcid.org/0000-0000-9337-1035Thomas Batter2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3957-3725Christine Found-Jackson3California State Polytechnic University, HumboldtCalifornia Department of Fish and WildlifeCalifornia Department of Fish and WildlifeCalifornia Department of Fish and WildlifeIn northern California, Roosevelt (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) and Rocky Mountain (C. c. nelsoni) elk occupy a wide variety of habitats over a large extent, including the Marble Mountains Elk Management Unit (MM EMU). Dense forest canopy and steep, mountainous terrain present significant challenges for monitoring elk populations using traditional aerial and ground-based methods. These constraints have resulted in inadequate spatial and temporal research and monitoring. To address the need for comprehensive and reliable elk abundance estimates, we implemented a landscape-level camera trap study within the MM EMU. We deployed 180 cameras and applied a time-to-event model to estimate elk abundance. This method uses the movement rate, area in front of each camera, and leverages the latency time to detection for a given species. Analysis yielded an estimate of 1,415 (95% CI: 1,044–1,919) elk across the management unit. Here, we present the use of a recently developed method to non-invasively estimate the abundance of unmarked elk at the landscape-level in northern California. Implementation of this method can provide reliable information to aid management decisions for the continued recreational, ecological, and economic benefits of elk and wildlife in general.https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2023/11/21/utilizing-the-time-to-event-framework-to-estimate-elk-abundance-over-a-large-spatial-scale-in-the-klamath-mountains-of-california/bundancecalifornialandscape-level monitoringnon-invasiverocky mountain elkroosevelt elkcamera trapstime-to-eventunmarked |
| spellingShingle | Sara Moriarty-Graves Erin Zulliger Thomas Batter Christine Found-Jackson Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of California California Fish and Wildlife Journal bundance california landscape-level monitoring non-invasive rocky mountain elk roosevelt elk camera traps time-to-event unmarked |
| title | Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of California |
| title_full | Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of California |
| title_fullStr | Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of California |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of California |
| title_short | Utilizing the time-to-event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the Klamath Mountains of California |
| title_sort | utilizing the time to event framework to estimate elk abundance over a large spatial scale in the klamath mountains of california |
| topic | bundance california landscape-level monitoring non-invasive rocky mountain elk roosevelt elk camera traps time-to-event unmarked |
| url | https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2023/11/21/utilizing-the-time-to-event-framework-to-estimate-elk-abundance-over-a-large-spatial-scale-in-the-klamath-mountains-of-california/ |
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