Hardcopies of CAPTURE input and output files. (3 points)As part of your new job as a research technician, you helped collect data on the population response of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) to grazing. A pilot study was conducted in the Curlew Valley of southeastern Idaho. Mark-recapture was used to estimate the abundance of deer mice in 9 small isolated fields (3 with no grazing, 3 with moderate grazing, and 3 with high-intensity grazing). A trapping grid consisting of 70 live traps, spaced 15 m apart, and covering 0.81 ha was established in each field. Trapping was conducted for 10 consecutive nights (per field). As part of the preliminary data analysis, your boss has asked you to analyze data from one field. The raw data have been summarized in an XY-reduced file format (file peromysc.cap). Your assignment is to: (1) write a command file (i.e., input file) using 2CAPTURE, (2) analyze the data using program CAPTURE (either from DOS or from the web), and (3) interpret the output, i.e., answer the following questions:
How many individual animals were captured? (1 point)
How many animals were captured more than once? (1 point)
What percent of the animals caught on the fourth night were new captures (first time captures) (1 point)
What was the mean of the maximum distance (in meters) between capture points for all deer mice captured 4 times? (hint: look at the summary tables in your output, assuming you selected "Summary" in 2Capture). Why might this number increase for animals caught more frequently (i.e., explain the increase in the mean maximum difference between 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 captures)? (2 points)
Which model did you use to estimate abundance? Explain this model in your own words (assumptions of the model). (2 points)
Is the population closed? Justify your answer. (2 points)
What is the estimated probability of capture under the appropriate model? What is the estimated probability of recapture under the same model? What does a higher probability of recapture imply? (3 points)
What is the estimated population size under the appropriate model? What is the approximate 95% confidence interval for this estimate? (2 points)
Do you consider this a good estimate of Peromyscus abundance in the sample you analyzed? Why or why not? (Hint: consider the precision of the estimate, robustness of the model selected, and probability of capture given N<100). (3 points)
Note: If you choose to use the web to obtain your capture results, you should look at the instructions in the In-class exercise on using the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center web site. You will need to change your input file in a similar manner to get it to successfully produce results.
Hardcopies of CAPTURE input and output files. (3 points)
Hardcopy of your CAPTURE input file. Be sure to have your name typed into the title of the input file.
Hardcopy of your CAPTURE output file(s). Note: You can call the output file into a wordprocessor, "clean up" the output, and then print the applicable portions. If you take this approach, select a small Courier font to keep numbers aligned.
Answers to the questions. Note: Please include the question or a shortened version of the question with your answer. Also, answers should be typed and double spaced.
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Problem sets are due at the beginning of lab next week - if they are not turned in at that time, 2 points per day will be deducted up to a maximum of 1/2 the total available points. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE!!!!! This was discussed in the introduction to the lab. |
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Revised: 30 September 2004