Institute of Technical Chemistry/Life Science, Leibniz University of Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Institute for Applied Informatics, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony, Germany.
PLoS One. 2023 Feb 17;18(2):e0279899. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279899. eCollection 2023.
Population parameters are usually determined from mark-recapture experiments requiring laborious field work. Here, we present a model-based approach that can be applied for the determination of avian population parameters such as average individual life expectancy, average age in the population, and generation length from age-differentiated bird counts. Moreover, the method presented can also create age-specific results from lifetime averages using a deterministic exponential function for the calculation of parameters of interest such as age-dependent mortality and age distribution in the population. The major prerequisites for application of this method are that young and adult birds are easily distinguishable in the field as well as the existence of sufficiently large data sets for error minimization. Large data sets are nowadays often available through the existence of so-called "citizen science" databases. Examples for the determination of population parameters are given for long-living migratory birds which travel as families in large groups such as the Common Crane and the Whooper Swan. Other examples include long-living partially migratory birds staying together in large flocks which do not travel as families such as the Black-headed Gull, and also short-living songbirds where at least from one sex young and adult birds are easily differentiable such as the male Black Redstart.
种群参数通常通过需要艰苦野外工作的标记重捕实验来确定。在这里，我们提出了一种基于模型的方法，可用于确定鸟类种群参数，例如平均个体预期寿命、种群平均年龄和世代长度，这些都可以通过年龄分化的鸟类计数来实现。此外，该方法还可以使用确定性指数函数从终生平均值中创建特定年龄的结果，以计算感兴趣的参数，例如与年龄相关的死亡率和种群中的年龄分布。应用该方法的主要前提条件是，在野外能够轻易区分幼鸟和成年鸟，并且存在足够大的数据集以最小化误差。如今，通过所谓的“公民科学”数据库，通常可以获得大型数据集。以长途迁徙鸟类为例，它们成群结队地迁徙，例如普通鹤和大天鹅，都可以用这种方法来确定种群参数。其他例子还包括部分迁徙鸟类，它们成群结队地呆在一起，不会像家庭一样迁徙，例如黑头鸥，还有一些短寿命的鸣禽，其中至少从一种性别来看，幼鸟和成年鸟是很容易区分的，例如雄性黑红尾鸲。
