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Estimating abundance of striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) in the Negev Desert of Israel using camera traps and closed capture–recapture models

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Abstract

Estimating key state variables (e.g., abundance/density) of threatened/endangered species is a difficult yet crucial task. These variables are essential for wildlife conservationists/managers to assess the current states and trends of target populations and make state-dependent management decisions. We estimated, using camera traps and two different methodologies, the abundance of the near-threatened striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in the Negev Highlands, Israel. Both the traditional closed capture–recapture (closed-CR) and the census/near-census frameworks (both rely on closed CR models) were employed. For attaining a census/near census, we calculated a range of plausible capture/detection probabilities and their combinations with sampling durations that would result in detection of ≥95% of the target population. We then covered a subsection (circa 400 km2) of the Negev Highlands using 15 camera traps for 83 days. This targeted sampling provides a strong indication for attaining a census/near census for capture/detection probabilities as low as p = 0.05. The closed CR models (M0 and Mb) yielded a model averaged estimates of abundance \( \widehat{\overline{N}} \) = 7 (SE 1.94E-05, PLCI 7-7) and capture/detection probability \( \widehat{\overline{p}} \) = 0.09 (SE 0.033, 95% CI 0.05–0.18). Using the estimated \( \widehat{\overline{p}} \), we calculated that during the sampling, we (ostensibly) captured the entire (99.9%) target population. Additionally, we used spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) approach to estimate the density of the hyenas in a subsection of our study area where hyenas were spotted and got an estimate of \( \widehat{D} \) = 0.085 individuals/km2 (SE 0.0334, 95% CI 0.040–0.178) or 8.5 individuals/100 km2. Many studies estimate abundance/density of threatened/endangered species using closed CR models; however, for small populations of elusive animals, these models often yield less accurate estimates exactly where accuracy is needed the most. While it likely increases the costs and time, the census/near-census framework provides a more accurate solution for such cases.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the members of the Arabian Leopard Project for the help in funding and carrying out this study. We warmly thank Itay Aner, Boris Shwarzman, Juma’a Sadan, Amir Horovitz, Eelke van Driel, and Haim Berger for their contribution to data collection and logistical support. Additionally, we are most grateful to Maggie Watson for her very helpful comments and help on earlier versions of this paper. Lastly, we wish to thank Brian Gerber for his most valuable comments on a previous version of this paper that set it on the right track.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Edinburgh Napier University, 1 Sighthill Court, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, UK

    Jonathan Tichon & Paul Ward

  2. Spatial Ecology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Negev, Israel

    Guy Rotem

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  1. Jonathan Tichon
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Correspondence to Jonathan Tichon.

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Funding

This study was funded by the ‘Arabian Leopard Project’ using funds obtained from a designated Kickstarter crowd funding: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1694685126/save-the-arabian-leopard

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Tichon, J., Rotem, G. & Ward, P. Estimating abundance of striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) in the Negev Desert of Israel using camera traps and closed capture–recapture models. Eur J Wildl Res 63, 5 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-016-1069-y

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