The editor’s selection is the article by Christianson et al.: “Estimating true density in giant, alpine herbivores utilizing Google Earth imagery”
Dependable estimates of inhabitants measurement and density are important for each analysis and administration, but very troublesome to attain. That is significantly true for wide-ranging species in distant, hard-to-access areas. On this paper, Christianson et al. describe a easy and cost-effective strategy to estimate abundance of huge, conspicuous mammals in open habitats utilizing freely out there Google Earth satellite tv for pc imagery. They used an impartial double-observer protocol to estimate elk Cervus elaphus density in Yellowstone Nationwide Park, USA.
Whereas Yellowstone elk have been the topic of quite a few research, density estimates have been restricted to their extra accessible, lower-elevation winter vary; the distant and huge Alpine summer season vary nevertheless that had by no means been systematically surveyed. Related survey protocols may very well be helpful additionally for different giant species, particularly when excessive detectability within the open permits for prime precision of density estimates, as was the case for Yellowstone elk.
/Ilse Storch
Editor-in-Chief
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