Detectability of capybaras in forested habitats

• Autor(a) principal: Pinto,Gustavo Romeiro Mainardes
• Data de Publicação: 2006
• Outros Autores: Ferraz,Kátia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros, Couto,Hilton Thadeu Zarate do, Verdade,Luciano Martins
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Biota Neotropica
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1676-06032006000100008
• topic: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris; capybara; abundance index; direct count; detectability index

Direct count has been commonly used as an abundance index to estimate wildlife population size. However, systematic errors in sample-based estimators are common in sampling animal populations. At this study we aimed to estimate capybara's observability, through a detectability index in forested habitats. Sampling surveys of capybaras population was obtained by direct count (abundance index) and also by complete count (census). The average detectability index of capybaras in forested habitats was 0.63 ± 0.32 for a single observer. The variability in the detectability index among habitats was due to the presence of more or less dense vegetation. This information might be useful for management purposes of the species in the agroecosystems of southeastern Brazil where species is widespread and overabundant.