Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across Africa
Understanding the population status of a species is vital for their conservation. Over the last two decades, multiple methods for surveying lion (Panthera leo) populations have been designed and tested. Each have strengths and weaknesses, with different applications, and varying levels of reliabilit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424001124 |
| _version_ | 1797234031811624960 |
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| author | Samantha K. Nicholson David R. Mills Erin C. Adams David G. Marneweck Hans Bauer Lizanne Roxburgh Rob Slotow |
| author_facet | Samantha K. Nicholson David R. Mills Erin C. Adams David G. Marneweck Hans Bauer Lizanne Roxburgh Rob Slotow |
| author_sort | Samantha K. Nicholson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the population status of a species is vital for their conservation. Over the last two decades, multiple methods for surveying lion (Panthera leo) populations have been designed and tested. Each have strengths and weaknesses, with different applications, and varying levels of reliability, accuracy and precision. We conducted a PRISMA systematic review to identify and assess survey methods for estimating lion population abundance. We searched the Web of Science and Google Scholar for peer reviewed papers between January 1991 and December 2022. Sixty-five papers were included, with some using multiple methods or multiple study sites; when these were separated, 93 studies were identified. Seven broad population survey methods for lions were identified: call ups (34.8% of studies), spoor counts (32.5%), direct observations (15.7%), direct observations with capture recapture elements (12.4%), camera trap-based capture-recapture analysis (4.5%), genetic surveys (3%) and distance-based surveys (1.1%). Our literature review suggests that the most reliable methods for determining lion density or abundance are direct observations and camera trap-based capture recapture surveys. Genetic surveys combined with spatially-explicit capture recapture analysis also hold significant potential. Due to their lack of reliability and tendency to over-estimate populations, call ups and spoor counts are not recommended for determining population abundance. We further recommend that harmonized methods be developed that can produce comparable and reliable estimates, which can be used to inform conservation decisions across the species range. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:25:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43c09b0a99b54cc7950fc516e265a8f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:25:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-43c09b0a99b54cc7950fc516e265a8f52024-03-31T04:37:29ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942024-06-0151e02908Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across AfricaSamantha K. Nicholson0David R. Mills1Erin C. Adams2David G. Marneweck3Hans Bauer4Lizanne Roxburgh5Rob Slotow6The Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pvt Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Corresponding author at: The Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa.The Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pvt Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Panthera – 8 West 40th St, New York, NY 10018, USAThe Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South AfricaConservation Alpha, Southern Africa; Department of Conservation Management, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, George, South AfricaUniversity of Oxford, Biology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Tubney House, OX13 5QL, UKThe Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South AfricaOppenheimer Fellow in Functional Biodiversity, Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal , , Pietermaritzburg, Pvt Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology, University College London, United KingdomUnderstanding the population status of a species is vital for their conservation. Over the last two decades, multiple methods for surveying lion (Panthera leo) populations have been designed and tested. Each have strengths and weaknesses, with different applications, and varying levels of reliability, accuracy and precision. We conducted a PRISMA systematic review to identify and assess survey methods for estimating lion population abundance. We searched the Web of Science and Google Scholar for peer reviewed papers between January 1991 and December 2022. Sixty-five papers were included, with some using multiple methods or multiple study sites; when these were separated, 93 studies were identified. Seven broad population survey methods for lions were identified: call ups (34.8% of studies), spoor counts (32.5%), direct observations (15.7%), direct observations with capture recapture elements (12.4%), camera trap-based capture-recapture analysis (4.5%), genetic surveys (3%) and distance-based surveys (1.1%). Our literature review suggests that the most reliable methods for determining lion density or abundance are direct observations and camera trap-based capture recapture surveys. Genetic surveys combined with spatially-explicit capture recapture analysis also hold significant potential. Due to their lack of reliability and tendency to over-estimate populations, call ups and spoor counts are not recommended for determining population abundance. We further recommend that harmonized methods be developed that can produce comparable and reliable estimates, which can be used to inform conservation decisions across the species range.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424001124CarnivoreConservationPopulationsPopulation estimatesPanthera leo |
| spellingShingle | Samantha K. Nicholson David R. Mills Erin C. Adams David G. Marneweck Hans Bauer Lizanne Roxburgh Rob Slotow Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across Africa Global Ecology and Conservation Carnivore Conservation Populations Population estimates Panthera leo |
| title | Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across Africa |
| title_full | Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across Africa |
| title_fullStr | Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across Africa |
| title_short | Towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies: A systematic review of practice across Africa |
| title_sort | towards effective and harmonized lion survey methodologies a systematic review of practice across africa |
| topic | Carnivore Conservation Populations Population estimates Panthera leo |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424001124 |
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