Cristescu Bogdan, Elbroch L Mark, Forrester Tavis D, Allen Maximilian L, Spitz Derek B, Wilmers Christopher C, Wittmer Heiko U
Environmental Studies Department University of California Santa Cruz California USA.
Panthera New York New York USA.
Ecol Evol. 2022 Jun 23;12(6):e9034. doi: 10.1002/ece3.9034. eCollection 2022 Jul.
Mortality site investigations of telemetered wildlife are important for cause-specific survival analyses and understanding underlying causes of observed population dynamics. Yet, eroding ecoliteracy and a lack of quality control in data collection can lead researchers to make incorrect conclusions, which may negatively impact management decisions for wildlife populations. We reviewed a random sample of 50 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2019 on survival and cause-specific mortality of ungulates monitored with telemetry devices. This concise review revealed extensive variation in reporting of field procedures, with many studies omitting critical information for the cause of mortality inference. Field protocols used to investigate mortality sites and ascertain the cause of mortality are often minimally described and frequently fail to address how investigators dealt with uncertainty. We outline a step-by-step procedure for mortality site investigations of telemetered ungulates, including evidence that should be documented in the field. Specifically, we highlight data that can be useful to differentiate predation from scavenging and more conclusively identify the predator species that killed the ungulate. We also outline how uncertainty in identifying the cause of mortality could be acknowledged and reported. We demonstrate the importance of rigorous protocols and prompt site investigations using data from our 5-year study on survival and cause-specific mortality of telemetered mule deer () in northern California. Over the course of our study, we visited mortality sites of neonates ( = 91) and adults ( = 23) to ascertain the cause of mortality. Rapid site visitations significantly improved the successful identification of the cause of mortality and confidence levels for neonates. We discuss the need for rigorous and standardized protocols that include measures of confidence for mortality site investigations. We invite reviewers and journal editors to encourage authors to provide supportive information associated with the identification of causes of mortality, including uncertainty.
对佩戴遥测设备的野生动物进行死亡地点调查，对于特定原因的生存分析以及理解观察到的种群动态的潜在原因至关重要。然而，生态素养的下降以及数据收集过程中缺乏质量控制，可能导致研究人员得出错误结论，这可能会对野生动物种群的管理决策产生负面影响。我们回顾了2000年至2019年间发表的50篇关于使用遥测设备监测有蹄类动物生存和特定原因死亡率的同行评审研究的随机样本。这一简要回顾揭示了野外调查程序报告方面存在广泛差异，许多研究遗漏了用于推断死亡原因的关键信息。用于调查死亡地点和确定死亡原因的野外方案通常描述最少，并且经常未能说明调查人员如何处理不确定性。我们概述了对佩戴遥测设备的有蹄类动物进行死亡地点调查的逐步程序，包括应在野外记录的证据。具体而言，我们强调了有助于区分捕食与食腐行为并更确凿地识别杀死有蹄类动物的捕食者物种的数据。我们还概述了如何承认和报告在确定死亡原因方面的不确定性。我们利用我们在加利福尼亚北部对佩戴遥测设备的骡鹿（）进行的为期5年的生存和特定原因死亡率研究的数据，证明了严格方案和及时进行地点调查的重要性。在我们的研究过程中，我们访问了新生鹿（=91）和成年鹿（=23）的死亡地点，以确定死亡原因。快速的实地访问显著提高了对新生鹿死亡原因的成功识别率和置信水平。我们讨论了制定严格且标准化方案的必要性，这些方案应包括死亡地点调查的置信度衡量标准。我们邀请审稿人和期刊编辑鼓励作者提供与确定死亡原因相关的支持性信息，包括不确定性信息。
