Which census method is most appropriate
for your population and question? Which census method is most appropriate
for your population and question?
Key to Basic Census Methods:| Key # | Population characteristic to consider. | GoTo # or Method |
| 1 (a) | The population can be treated as closed during the census (i.e., no births, deaths, immigration, or emigration). | 2 |
| 1 (b) | The population cannot be treated as closed during the census. | 9 |
| 2 (a) | An estimate of absolute density is required. | 3 |
| 2 (b) | An estimate of absolute density is not required. | Density Indices |
| 3 (a) | All animals can be counted on the study area. | Complete Census |
| 3 (b) | All animals cannot be counted on the study area. | 4 |
| 4 (a) | Animals can be captured more efficiently and accurately than counted. | 5 |
| 4 (b) | Animals can be counted more efficiently and accurately than captured. | 7 |
| 5 (a) | A large proportion of the population can be captured in a single period. | Lincoln-Peterson Mark-Recapture |
| 5 (b) | A large proportion of the population cannot be captured in a single period. | 6 |
| 6 (a) | Captured animals will be removed from the population. | Catch-Effort or Change-in-Ratio |
| 6 (b) | Captured animals will not be removed from the population. | Multiple Mark-Recaptures |
| 7 (a) | The population is dense. | Complete Count on Sample Plots |
| 7 (b) | The population is sparse. | 8 |
| 8 (a) | All animals can be detected at a long distance from the observer. | Strip Census |
| 8 (b) | All animals cannot be detected at a long distance from the observer. | Line Transect |
| 9 (a) | Survival rate is of pre-eminent interest. | 10 |
| 9 (b) | Survival rate is not of pre-eminent interest. | 12 |
| 10 (a) | Survival varies stochastically from time period to time period. | 11 |
| 10 (b) | Survival does not vary stochastically from time period to time period. | Life Tables or Band- Recovery Methods |
| 11 (a) | Survival can be treated as constant for all ages. | Stochastic Age-Independent Band- Recovery Analysis |
| 11 (b) | Survival can not be treated as constant for all ages. | Stochastic Age-Dependent Band-Recovery Analysis |
| 12 (a) | Captured animals will be removed from the population. | Catch-Effort or Change-in-Ratio |
| 12 (b) | Captured animals will not be removed from the population. | Stochastic Multiple Recaptures |
Also see Bookhout 1994: 220,
247-250. 
Return to Lecture Notes IV. Estimation of Population
Parameters - I.
Updated 31 July 1996