Development and application of a mass-estimation method for Weddell seals
Development and application of a mass-estimation method for Weddell seals
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1748-7692.2006.00039.x
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发表时间：
2006-04-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Banfield, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ireland, D;Garrott, RA;Banfield, J
传统的获取大量数据的方法限制了从一些鳍足类的种群中收集大样本的能力，或者限制了在不对动物造成很大干扰的情况下进行采样的能力。为了收集南极埃里伯斯湾威德尔海豹（Leptonychotes weddellii）种群的大量数据，我们开发了利用数码照片估算威德尔海豹种群数量的设备和方法。所得回归模型预测成年雌海豹的质量在估计质量的+/- 13.8%范围内，幼海豹的估计质量在+/- 25.9%范围内。我们表明，开发的协议是可重复的和有效的，足以适用于大量的动物在相对较短的时间内，并可能是有用的其他海洋哺乳动物的研究。我们警告说，预测区间存在于质量估计值周围，必须考虑到何时将估计值应用于生物问题。在有限的应用程序的方法，有经验的和没有经验的母亲和他们的幼崽之间的质量转移的差异进行检测时，预测误差方差周围的质量估计明确包括在内。因此，类似的质量估计方法可能有助于考虑生物学问题，需要以前无法达到的大样本质量。
Traditional methods of acquiring mass data limit the ability to collect large samples from across Populations of some pinnipeds, or to sample without great disturbance to the animals. In order to Collect Substantial samples of mass data from the Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) Population in Erebus Bay, Antarctica, we developed the equipment and methods for estimating the mass of Weddell seals using digital photographs. Resulting regression models predict the mass of adult Female seals to within +/- 13.8% of estimated mass, and +/- 25.9% of estimated mass for pups. We show the protocols developed are repeatable and efficient enough to be applied to a large number of animals in a relatively short period of time and may be useful for studies of other marine mammals. We caution that prediction intervals exist around mass estimates and must be accounting for when estimates are applied to biological questions. In a limited application of the method, differences in mass transfer between experienced and inexperienced maternal females and their pups were detected when prediction error variance around mass estimates was explicitly included. Similar mass-estimation methods may therefore be useful in consideration of biological questions requiring large samples of mass previously unattainable.