Abstract
We compared visual survey and seining methods for estimating abundance of endangered Okaloosa darters, Etheostoma okaloosae, in 12 replicate stream reaches during August 2001. For each 20-m stream reach, two divers systematically located and marked the position of darters and then a second crew of three to five people came through with a small-mesh seine and exhaustively sampled the same area. Visual surveys required little extra time to complete. Visual counts (24.2 ± 12.0; mean ± one SD) considerably exceeded seine captures (7.4 ± 4.8), and counts from the two methods were uncorrelated. Visual surveys, but not seines, detected the presence of Okaloosa darters at one site with low population densities. In 2003, we performed a depletion removal study in 10 replicate stream reaches to assess the accuracy of the visual survey method. Visual surveys detected 59% of Okaloosa darters present, and visual counts and removal estimates were positively correlated. Taken together, our comparisons indicate that visual surveys more accurately and precisely estimate abundance of Okaloosa darters than seining and more reliably detect presence at low population densities. We recommend evaluation of visual survey methods when designing programs to monitor abundance of benthic fishes in clear streams, especially for threatened and endangered species that may be sensitive to handling and habitat disturbance.
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Acknowledgments
Amy Hester, Myra Hughey, Jane Jimeian, Christina Ralph, and Susan Vincent provided assistance in the field. Hank Bart, Bob Cashner, Lisa Jelks, and Steve Walsh provided valuable comments on earlier drafts of this paper. Bruce Hagedorn and Carl Petrick provided logistical support at Eglin Air Force Base. Funding was provided to HLJ and FJ by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and US Department of Defense.
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Jordan, F., Jelks, H.L., Bortone, S.A. et al. Comparison of visual survey and seining methods for estimating abundance of an endangered, benthic stream fish. Environ Biol Fish 81, 313–319 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9202-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9202-0