@article{fdi:010066344,
  title = {{R}obust assessment of population trends in marine mammals applied to {N}ew {C}aledonian humpback whales [plus {S}upplementary material]},
  author = {{O}rgeret, {F}. and {G}arrigue, {C}laire and {G}imenez, {O}. and {P}radel, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}stimating population trends for long-lived, migratory animals is challenging but essential for managing populations. {H}ere we propose using a simple but potentially robust method, the direct estimation of population growth rate ({PGR}) from capture-recapture data. {W}e considered an {E}ndangered population of humpback whales {M}egaptera novaeangliae breeding and calving annually in the southern lagoon of {N}ew {C}aledonia. {S}tudied since 1996, this population is known to exhibit a strong signal of transience, i.e. the presence of individuals that pass through the sampling area once, inducing detection heterogeneity. {A}nother difficulty is that a more recently discovered second breeding and calving habitat (offshore seamounts to the south) has been surveyed with less intensity. {C}urrent direct {PGR} estimation models cannot deal with spatial sampling heterogeneity. {I}n order to assess the reliability of the proposed method-in general and for our population in particular-we evaluated its robustness using simulations: first, when there are transient individuals; then, when the study area is split into 2 unequally sampled parts. {W}e found no bias in {PGR} in the presence of transients. {T}he bias with 2 unequally sampled parts depends on the amount and direction of exchanges, but appears negligible in our case study. {T}he constant yearly {PGR} of the {N}ew {C}aledonian humpback whale population at the level of the 2 habitats was estimated at 1.15 (95% {CI} 1.11-1.20), suggesting outside recruitment. {W}henever capture-recapture is feasible, we recommend the {P}radel approach to estimate the {PGR}, validated with appropriate simulations, in order to assess population welfare.},
  keywords = {{NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE} ; {PACIFIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {E}cology {P}rogress {S}eries},
  volume = {515},
  numero = {},
  pages = {265--273},
  ISSN = {0171-8630},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.3354/meps10992},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066344},
}