Estimation of walrus populations on sea ice with infrared imagery and aerial photography
Marine Mammal Science
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Abstract
Population sizes of ice-associated pinnipeds have often been estimated with visual or photographic aerial surveys, but these methods require relatively slow speeds and low altitudes, limiting the area they can cover. Recent developments in infrared imagery and its integration with digital photography could allow substantially larger areas to be surveyed and more accurate enumeration of individuals, thereby solving major problems with previous survey methods. We conducted a trial survey in April 2003 to estimate the number of Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) hauled out on sea ice around St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. The survey used high altitude infrared imagery to detect groups of walruses on strip transects. Low altitude digital photography was used to determine the number of walruses in a sample of detected groups and calibrate the infrared imagery for estimating the total number of walruses. We propose a survey design incorporating this approach with satellite radio telemetry to estimate the proportion of the population in the water and additional low-level flights to estimate the proportion of the hauled-out population in groups too small to be detected in the infrared imagery. We believe that this approach offers the potential for obtaining reliable population estimates for walruses and other ice-associated pinnipeds. ?? 2007 by the Society for Marine Mammalogy.
Suggested Citation
Udevitz, M.S., Burn, D.M., and Webber, M., 2008, Estimation of walrus populations on sea ice with infrared imagery and aerial photography: Marine Mammal Science, v. 24, no. 1, p. 57-70, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00169.x.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Estimation of walrus populations on sea ice with infrared imagery and aerial photography |
| Series title | Marine Mammal Science |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00169.x |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication Date | December 27, 2007 |
| Year Published | 2008 |
| Language | English |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Marine Mammal Science |
| First page | 57 |
| Last page | 70 |