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Abstract
Reliable estimates of the distribution and abundance of an ungulate species is essential prior to establishing and implementing a management program. We used ground surveys to determine distribution and ground and aerial surveys and individually marked deer to estimate the abundance of fallow deer (Dama dama) in north-coastal California. Fallow deer had limited distribution and heterogeneous densities. Estimated post-rut densities across 4 annual surveys ranged from a low of 1.4 (SE=0.2) deer/km2 to a high of 3.3 (se=0.5) deer/km2 in a low density stratum and from 49.0 (SE=8.3) deer/km2 to 111.6 deer/km2 in a high density stratum. Sightability was positively influenced by the presence of white color-phase deer in a group and group size, and varied between airial and ground-based observers and by density strata. Our findings underscore the utility of double-observer surveys and aerial surveys with individually marked deer, both incorporating covariates to model sightability, to estimate deer abundance.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Aerial survey estimates of fallow deer abundance |
| Series title | California Fish and Game |
| Volume | 98 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2012 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | State of California |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center |
| Description | 13 p. |
| First page | 135 |
| Last page | 147 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Marin County |
| Other Geospatial | Point Reyes |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |