Assignment Task:
1. Expand on your thoughts about at least one of the concerns/challenges in the post.
2. Mention and comment on at least one assumption of occupancy modelling illustrated by a comment in the post. Use an outside source that mentions this assumption as an assumption of the technique. Cite source in APA format. Need Assignment Help?
Post:
1. Detection Percentage and Detectability:
In my six Virtual Forest simulation trials, I was able to detect the rabbit only once. This gives a detection rate of about 16.7%. While this number gives a basic idea of detectability in the simulation, I don't think it shows how easy rabbits are to detect in real life. The low detection rate was likely due to limits in the activity such as having to stay in one place, only getting three minutes per trial, and not being able to see very far because of trees or other obstacles. In the real world, things like animal behavior, habitat, weather, and observer skill all affect whether an animal is seen. This activity showed how easy it is to miss an animal, even if it's there, which is why it's important for occupancy studies to consider false absences.
2. Challenges in Occupancy Survey Design and Recommendations:
A major challenge in this activity was the low chance of seeing the rabbit, even when it was present. This shows a real problem with survey design: if a species isn't seen, we might wrongly assume it's not there. To fix this, I recommend doing more visits at each plot to increase the chances of detecting the animal. Other helpful changes could include making the plots easier to see across (like trimming vegetation), or allowing the observer to move a little. Using camera traps could also help by letting researchers monitor areas without needing to be there in person. This would be useful for species that are hard to find or active at night.
3. Example from Published Literature:
Bauder et al. (2017) studied the Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) in Florida using occupancy surveys. They visited 138 sites and did 3 to 5 surveys at each one using visual searches. They also looked at factors like habitat type, season, and weather to help explain their results. The study showed that doing repeated surveys helped increase detection and gave a better idea of where the snakes were living. This supports the idea that good survey design, with multiple visits and attention to habitat features, leads to better results when studying rare or hard-to-see animals.