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Multi-surveyor detection-mark-redetection as a powerful tool for butterfly population monitoring in the pre-imaginal stage
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  • Heiko Hinneberg,
  • Jörg Döring,
  • Gabriel Hermann,
  • Gregor Markl,
  • Jennifer Theobald,
  • Ines Aust,
  • Thomas Bamann,
  • Ralf Bertscheit,
  • Daniela Budach,
  • Jana Niedermayer,
  • Alicia Rissi,
  • Thomas Gottschalk
Heiko Hinneberg
Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jörg Döring
private
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Gabriel Hermann
Arbeitsgruppe für Tierökologie und Planung GmbH (Filderstadt)
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Gregor Markl
University of Tubingen Faculty of Science
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Jennifer Theobald
Arbeitsgruppe für Tierökologie und Planung GmbH (Filderstadt)
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Ines Aust
Regierungspräsidium Tübingen
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Thomas Bamann
Regierungspräsidium Tübingen
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Ralf Bertscheit
private
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Daniela Budach
ISTE Baden-Württemberg e. V.
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Jana Niedermayer
Institut für Landschaftsökologie und Naturschutz (ILN) Bühl
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Alicia Rissi
Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences
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Thomas Gottschalk
Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences
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Abstract

1. For many elusive insect species, which are difficult to cover by standard monitoring schemes, innovative monitoring methods are needed to gain robust data on population trends. We suggest a monitoring of overwintering larvae for the endangered nymphalid butterfly Limenitis reducta. 2. We tested one removal and three detection-mark-redetection (DMR) approaches in a field study in the “Alb-Donau” region, Germany. We replaced movement of the study organisms by random movement of multiple different surveyors, and we examined the model assumption of equal detectability using simulations. 3. Our results indicate that multi-surveyor removal/DMR techniques are suitable for estimating abundance of overwintering L. reducta larvae. Detection probabilities varied with surveyor experience and the uncertainty of population estimates increased with a decrease in personnel expenditure. Estimated larval densities on a spruce clear-cut ranged between one and three individuals per 100 m². 4. We suggest a detection-mark-redetection (DMR) approach with three trained surveyors for the monitoring of L. reducta populations in the pre-imaginal stage. Besides L. reducta, the proposed method is likely to be suitable for other insect taxa with specific immobile life-stages and some sessile organisms, e.g. corals, elusive plants, or fungi.
29 Dec 2021Submission Checks Completed
29 Dec 2021Assigned to Editor
05 Jan 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Mar 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Mar 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
19 May 20221st Revision Received
19 May 2022Submission Checks Completed
19 May 2022Assigned to Editor
19 May 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
27 Jun 20222nd Revision Received
28 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
28 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
28 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Accept