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Mortality estimation from carcass searches using the R-package carcass: a tutorial

Franzi Korner-Nievergelt·Oliver Behr·Robert Brinkmann·Matthew A. Etterson·Manuela M. P. Huso·Daniel Dalthorp·Pius Korner-Nievergelt·Tobias Roth·Ivo Niermann
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Abstract

This article is a tutorial for the R-package carcass . It starts with a short overview of common methods used to estimate mortality based on carcass searches. Then, it guides step by step through a simple example. First, the proportion of animals that fall into the search area is estimated. Second, carcass persistence time is estimated based on experimental data. Third, searcher efficiency is estimated. Fourth, these three estimated parameters are combined to obtain the probability that an animal killed is found by an observer. Finally, this probability is used together with the observed number of carcasses found to obtain an estimate for the total number of killed animals together with a credible interval.

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Franzi Korner-Nievergelt, Oliver Behr, Robert Brinkmann, Matthew A. Etterson, Manuela M. P. Huso, Daniel Dalthorp, Pius Korner-Nievergelt, Tobias Roth, Ivo Niermann. 2015. Mortality estimation from carcass searches using the R-package carcass: a tutorial. https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00094

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