A principal challenge impeding strong inference in analyses of wild populations is the lack of robust and long-term data sets. Recent advancements in analytical tools used in wildlife science may increase our ability to integrate smaller data sets and enhance the statistical power of population estimates. One such advancement, the development of spatial capture–recapture (SCR) methods, explicitly accounts for differences in spatial study designs, making it possible to equate multiple study designs in one analysis. SCR has been shown to be robust to variation in design as long as minimal sampling guidance is adhered to. However, these expectations are based on simulation and have yet to be evaluated in wild populations. Here we conduct a rigorously designed field experiment by manipulating the arrangement of artificial cover objects (ACOs) used to collect data on red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) to empirically evaluate the effects of design configuration on inference made using SCR. Our results suggest that, using SCR, estimates of space use and detectability are sensitive to study design configuration, namely the spacing and extent of the array, and that caution is warranted when assigning biological interpretation to these parameters. However, estimates of population density remain robust to design except when the configuration of detectors grossly violates existing recommendations.

中文翻译：

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空间捕获-再捕获研究设计的实验评估

阻碍对野生种群进行强有力推断的一个主要挑战是缺乏可靠和长期的数据集。野生动物科学中使用的分析工具的最新进展可能会提高我们整合较小数据集的能力，并增强人口估计的统计能力。其中一项进步，即空间捕获-再捕获 (SCR) 方法的发展，明确说明了空间研究设计的差异，使得在一次分析中等同于多个研究设计成为可能。只要遵守最低限度的采样指导，SCR 已被证明对设计的变化是稳健的。然而，这些预期是基于模拟的，尚未在野生种群中进行评估。Plethodon cinereus ) 以经验评估设计配置对使用 SCR 进行的推理的影响。我们的结果表明，使用 SCR，空间使用和可探测性的估计对研究设计配置敏感，即阵列的间距和范围，并且在为这些参数分配生物学解释时需要谨慎。然而，人口密度的估计对于设计来说仍然是稳健的，除非检测器的配置严重违反了现有的建议。