Skip to main content
Log in

Fitting a Structured Juvenile–Adult Model for Green Tree Frogs to Population Estimates from Capture–Mark–Recapture Field Data

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We derive point and interval estimates for an urban population of green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) from capture–mark–recapture field data obtained during the years 2006–2009. We present an infinite-dimensional least-squares approach which compares a mathematical population model to the statistical population estimates obtained from the field data. The model is composed of nonlinear first-order hyperbolic equations describing the dynamics of the amphibian population where individuals are divided into juveniles (tadpoles) and adults (frogs). To solve the least-squares problem, an explicit finite difference approximation is developed. Convergence results for the computed parameters are presented. Parameter estimates for the vital rates of juveniles and adults are obtained, and standard deviations for these estimates are computed. Numerical results for the model sensitivity with respect to these parameters are given. Finally, the above-mentioned parameter estimates are used to illustrate the long-time behavior of the population under investigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackleh, A. S. (1997a). Parameter estimation in a structured algal coagulation fragmentation model. Nonlinear Anal., 28, 837–854.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Ackleh, A. S. (1997b). Parameter estimation in the nonlinear size-structured population model. Adv. Syst. Sci. Appl. Special Issue, 1, 315–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ackleh, A. S., Banks, H. T., Deng, K., & Hu, S. (2005). Parameter estimation in a coupled system of nonlinear size-structured populations. Math. Biosci. Eng., 2, 289–315.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Ackleh, A. S., & Deng, K. (2009). A nonautonomous juvenile–adult model: well-posedness and long-time behavior via a comparison principle. SIAM J. Appl. Math., 69, 1644–1661.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Ackleh, A. S., Carter, J., Cole, L., Nguyen, T., Monte, J., & Pettit, C. (2010a). Measuring and modeling the seasonal changes of an urban green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) population. Ecol. Model., 221, 281–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ackleh, A. S., Deng, K., & Huang, Q. (2010b). Existence-uniqueness results and difference approximations for an amphibian juvenile-Adult Model. Contemp. Math.- Am. Math. Soc., 513, 1–23.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Ackleh, A. S., Deng, K., & Huang, Q. (2011). Stochastic juvenile–adult models with application to a green tree frog population. J. Biol. Dyn., 5, 64–83.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, B. M., Banks, H. T., Banks, J. E., & Stark, J. D. (2005). Population dynamics models in plant-insect herbivore-pesticide interactions. Math. Biosci., 196, 39–64.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Banks, H. T., & Kunisch, K. (1989). Estimation techniques for distributed parameter systems. Boston: Birkhäuser.

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Bielby, J., Cunningham, A. A., & Purvis, A. (2006). Taxonomic selectivity in amphibians: ignorance, geography, or biology? Anim. Conserv., 9, 135–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blouin, M. S. (1992). Genetic correlations among morphometric traits and rates of growth and differentiation in the H. cinerea. Evolution, 3, 735–744.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calsina, A., & Saldana, J. (1995). A model of physiologically structured population dynamics with a nonlinear individual growth rate. J. Math. Biol., 33, 335–364.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Davidian, M., & Giltinan, D. M. (1995). Nonlinear models for repeated measurement data. New York: Chapman and Hall/CRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garton, J. S., & Brandon, R. A. (1975). Reproductive ecology of the green treefrog, Hyla cinerea, in Southern Illinois (Anura: Hylidae). Herpetology, 31, 150–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunzburger, M. S. (2006). Reproductive ecology of the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) in Northwestern Florida. Am. Midl. Nat., 155, 321–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiesecker, J. M., Blaustein, A. R., & Belden, L. K. (2001). Complex causes of amphibian population declines. Nature, 410, 681–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pham, L., Boudreaux, S., Karhbet, S., Price, B., Ackleh, A. S., Carter, J., & Pal, N. (2007). Population estimates of Hyla cinerea (Schneider) (green treefrog) in an urban environment. Southeast. Nat., 6, 203–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pounds, J. A., Bustamante, M. R., Coloma, L. A., Consuegra, J. A., Fogden, M. P. L., et al. (2006). Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming. Nature, 439, 161–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K. T. (2005). Effects of nonindigenous tadpoles on native tadpoles in Florida: evidence of competition. Biol. Conserv., 123, 433–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart, S. N., Chanson, J. S., Cox, N. A., Young, B. E., Rodrigues, A. S. L., et al. (2004). Status and trends of amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide. Science, 306, 1783–1786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, A. H., & Wright, A. A. (1949). Handbook of frogs and toads of the United States and Canada (pp. 303–307). New York: Comstock Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., & Pal, N. (2010). Estimation of a population size through capture–mark–recapture method: a comparison of various point and interval estimators. J. Stat. Comput. Simul., 80, 335–354.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., Pal, N., Ackleh, A. S., & Carter, J. A case study of green tree frog population size estimation by repeated capture–mark–recapture method with individual tagging. J. Stat. Comput. Simul. (2011, accepted for publication).

  • Young, B. E., Lips, K. R., Reaser, J. K., Ibanez, R., Salas, A. W., et al. (2001). Population declines and priorities for amphibian, conservation in Latin America. Conserv. Biol., 15, 1213–1223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Azmy S. Ackleh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ackleh, A.S., Carter, J., Deng, K. et al. Fitting a Structured Juvenile–Adult Model for Green Tree Frogs to Population Estimates from Capture–Mark–Recapture Field Data. Bull Math Biol 74, 641–665 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-011-9682-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-011-9682-0

Keywords

Navigation