A revised method for estimating population densities of common wombats (Vombatus ursinus)
John McIlroy A , John Collins B and Philip Borchard C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A 38 Hempleman Drive, Akaroa, 7520, New Zealand.
B 187 Prince Edward Street, Malabar, NSW 2036, Australia.
C School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: pborchard@bigpond.com.
Australian Mammalogy 34(2) 170-174 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM11028
Submitted: 25 May 2011 Accepted: 9 December 2011 Published: 25 May 2012
Abstract
Estimation of the population density of the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) has used regression equations based on the mean number of burrows used per 24 h over five successive 24-h periods. While adequate, the method has several deficiencies and required 6 successive days of fieldwork to carry out. We describe a revised method based on considerably more data. It provides more precise estimates, can be used for greater numbers of used burrows and can be carried out over a much shorter period.
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