Journal article
Observer effects occur when estimating alert but not flight-initiation distances
PJ Guay, EM McLeod, R Cross, AJ Formby, SP Maldonado, RE Stafford-Bell, ZN St-James-Turner, RW Robinson, RA Mulder, MA Weston
Wildlife Research | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2013
DOI: 10.1071/WR13013
Abstract
Context The estimation of alert (vigilance) and flight-initiation (escape) distances (AD and FID, respectively) has underpinned theoretical and applied studies of the escape behaviour and management of disturbance to wildlife. Many studies use multiple observers, and some conduct meta-analyses; these efforts assume no observer effects in the estimation of these distances. Aims and methods We compared the estimates of FID and AD under ideal conditions (i.e. of black swans, Cygnus atratus, a large species with obvious behaviour, and at a location where swans allowed close approaches in open habitats), by one experienced and four inexperienced observers. Key results FID did not differ among obs..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded by Melbourne Water, a Victoria University Fellowship and a Faculty of Health Engineering and Science Collaborative Research Grant Scheme to P. J. Guay. Write up was supported by a Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment (Deakin University) Collaborative Research Grant. We thank Dr W. K. Steele for his support and advice. Data were collected under Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee Permit AEETH 15/10, National Parks DSE Scientific Permit 10005536. MAW's participation was covered by Deakin University Animal Ethics Committee Permits A48/2008 and B32/2012, National Parks Permit 10004656, and DSE Scientific Permit 10004656.