Validation of a rigorous track classification technique: identifying individual mountain lions

Lewison, Rebecca L.; Fitzhugh, E. Lee; Galentine, Steve P.

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(00)00197-x

Cited by 27 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Both the heel pad area and width contributed significantly to discriminate among species, suggesting that sexual size dimorphism also accounts for some of the species discrimination. Last, Lewinson et al (2001)'s discriminant model for puma individuals included the outer toe spread, the heel to lead toe length and the angle between inner toes, which does not corroborate our findings for NSC species discrimination but their research focuses on pumas' rear feet.…”

Section: Statistical Analysescontrasting

confidence: 96%

“…We drew the right fore foot outlines on a plastic board placed above footprints in sandy soil of 13 Ocelots, 21 Oncillas and 18 Margays. We then used SigmaScan Pro™ to accurately obtain morphometrics from these outlines (Lewinson et al 2001). We used linear, angular and area measurements as well as total length and width (Figure 2; Smallwood & Fitzhugh 1993;Grigione et al 1999;Lewinson et al 2001;García et al 2010).…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the reliability of data collected by any of these methods may be questionable (Frey 2006). Using a similar approach to what Lewinson et al (2001) and more recently, García et al (2010), have done with free-ranging and captive pumas (Puma concolor), the objective of this study was to verify the possibility of discriminating NSC species by a limited number of foot morphometrics, using a computerbased technique rather than relying on an observer's visual identification abilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The reliability of camera-trapping data depends on the ability of the observer to distinguish species on photographs (Dillon & Kelly 2008). When time allows, spoor surveys remain one of the most affordable methods for detecting and identifying felid species using footprints and track sets (Lewinson et al 2001;Gusset & Burgener 2005). However, results may vary depending on substrate quality, weather conditions and locomotion speed (Simonetti & Huareco 1999) and this may interfere with the observer's ability to determine a species by its tracks (Smallwood & Fitzhugh 1995;Grigione et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We verified the NSC species assignment using Wilk's Lambda test, matrices values and locations within the scatterplot (Lewinson et al 2001). Among the initial list, we selected the morphometrics the most correlated to the two first discriminant functions from the structure matrix.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neotropical Spotted Cat Species Discrimination Using Morphometrics

Bertrand¹,

Morisot²

2012

Nat. Conserv.

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Leopardus cat species identification can be performed using footprints. We performed a discriminant function analysis on a data set of 52 Neotropical Spotted Cats (NSC) individuals from a Brazilian wildlife reserve. We isolated five morphometrics that wildlife biologists can use to identify the author of a track or footprint, i.e. total length, heel pad width, negative space (Lead toe to the front lobe of heel pad length), outer toe area and heel pad area. Our technique properly classified 94.2% of the individuals into the correct species, and 86.5% of cross-validated groups were correctly identified. By relying on measurable variables rather than the observer's ability to identify a species from a footprint, this technique will increase correct identification during track surveys, which will in turn help increase the accuracy of population inventories.

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Section: Statistical Analysescontrasting

confidence: 96%

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neotropical Spotted Cat Species Discrimination Using Morphometrics

Bertrand¹,

Morisot²

2012

Nat. Conserv.

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Evaluation of noninvasive genetic sampling methods for cougars in Yellowstone National Park

et al. 2011

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Conventional methods for monitoring cougar, Puma concolor, populations involve capture, tagging, and radio‐collaring, but these methods are time‐consuming, expensive, and logistically challenging. For difficult‐to‐study species such as cougars, noninvasive genetic sampling (NGS) may be a useful alternative. The ability to identify individuals from samples collected through NGS methods provides many opportunities for developing population‐monitoring tools, but the utility of these survey methods is dependent upon collection of samples and accurate genotyping of those samples. In January 2003, we initiated a 3‐yr evaluation of NGS methods for cougars using a radio‐collared population in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), USA. Our goals were to: 1) determine which DNA collection method, hair snares or snow tracking, provided a better method for obtaining samples for genetic analysis, 2) evaluate reliability of the genetic data derived from hair samples collected in the field, and 3) evaluate the potential of NGS for demographic monitoring of cougar populations. Snow tracking yielded more hair samples and was more cost effective than snagging hair with rub pads. Samples collected from bed sites and natural hair snags (e.g., branch tips, thorn bushes) while snow tracking accurately identified and sexed 22 individuals (9 F, 13 M). The ratio of the count from snow tracking to the count from radio‐telemetry was 15:24 in winter 2004, 13:12 in 2005, and 22:29 for both years combined. Annual capture probabilities for obtaining DNA from snow tracking varied considerably between years for females (0.42 in 2004 and 0.88 in 2005) but were more consistent for males (0.77 in 2004 and 0.88 in 2005). Our results indicate that snow tracking can be an efficient, reliable NGS method for cougars in YNP and has potential for estimating demographic and genetic parameters of other carnivore populations in similar climates. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

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A long‐term evaluation of biopsy darts and DNA to estimate cougar density: An agency‐citizen science collaboration

2016

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Accurately estimating cougar (Puma concolor) density is usually based on long‐term research consisting of intensive capture and Global Positioning System collaring efforts and may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Because wildlife agency budgets rarely accommodate this approach, most infer cougar density from published literature, rely on short‐term studies, or use hunter harvest data as a surrogate in their jurisdictions; all of which may limit accuracy and increase risk of management actions. In an effort to develop a more cost‐effective long‐term strategy, we evaluated a research approach using citizen scientists with trained hounds to tree cougars and collect tissue samples with biopsy darts. We then used the DNA to individually identify cougars and employed spatially explicit capture–recapture models to estimate cougar densities. Overall, 240 tissue samples were collected in northeastern Washington, USA, producing 166 genotypes (including recaptures and excluding dependent kittens) of 133 different cougars (8–25/yr) from 2003 to 2011. Mark–recapture analyses revealed a mean density of 2.2 cougars/100 km2 (95% CI = 1.1–4.3) and stable to decreasing population trends (β = −0.048, 95% CI = −0.106–0.011) over the 9 years of study, with an average annual harvest rate of 14% (range = 7–21%). The average annual cost per year for field sampling and genotyping was US$11,265 ($422.24/sample or $610.73/successfully genotyped sample). Our results demonstrated that long‐term biopsy sampling using citizen scientists can increase capture success and provide reliable cougar‐density information at a reasonable cost. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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Validation of a rigorous track classification technique: identifying individual mountain lions

Cited by 27 publications

References 16 publications

Neotropical Spotted Cat Species Discrimination Using Morphometrics

Neotropical Spotted Cat Species Discrimination Using Morphometrics

Evaluation of noninvasive genetic sampling methods for cougars in Yellowstone National Park

A long‐term evaluation of biopsy darts and DNA to estimate cougar density: An agency‐citizen science collaboration

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