Capture-recapture estimation of San Joaquin kit fox population size on Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1, Kern County, California. [Vulpes macrotis mutica]
San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) population size was estimated semiannually on the US Department of Energy's Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1, Kern County, California, between December 1980 and August 1986 using capture-recapture data. Estimates were derived using a calendar graph (minimum population size) and appropriate models that allowed for unequal probability of capture. A total of 469 foxes were captured 930 times. There was a significant decline between the peak population estimates (164, minimum population size; 262, closed population model estimate) obtained in winter 1981 and the estimates for winter 1985 (41, minimum population size; 56, closed population model estimate). Population trends for the portion of the study area affected by petroleum development activities did not differ from those observed in undeveloped habitats. Closed population model tests provided evidence of behavioral response and heterogeneity of capture probability in the kit fox. The proportion of animals known to be alive but untrapped each session ranged between 14% and 77% which also indicated variable trap response. Closed population models provided reliable estimates of population size and its variance when the number of individual foxes captured was at least 40 to 50. Use of the Jolly-Seber open population model with this data set was rejected by the goodness-of-fit test because of the small number of marked foxes that were captured each trapping period and the small number of marked foxes from each release that were eventually recaptured.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Goleta, CA (USA). Santa Barbara Operations
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC08-83NV10282
- OSTI ID:
- 6943442
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-10282-2149; ON: DE87008052
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
An assessment of techniques for monitoring San Joaquin kit fox population abundance on Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1, Kern County, California
Sources and rates of mortality of the San Joaquin kit fox, Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1, Kern County, California, 1980-1986. [Vulpes macrotis mutica]
Related Subjects
FOXES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
CALIFORNIA
NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE
ANIMALS
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MAMMALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVES
RESOURCES
USA
VERTEBRATES
510500* - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)