@article{fdi:010077970,
  title = {{M}onitoring hunted species of cultural significance : estimates of trends, population sizes and harvesting rates of flying-fox ({P}teropus sp.) in {N}ew {C}aledonia},
  author = {{O}edin, {M}. and {B}rescia, {F}. and {B}oissenin, {M}. and {V}idal, {E}ric and {C}assan, {J}. {J}. and {H}urlin, {J}. {C}. and {M}illon, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}ssessing population trends and their underlying factors is critical to propose efficient conservation actions. {T}his assessment can be particularly challenging when dealing with highly mobile, shy and nocturnal animals such as flying-foxes. {H}ere we investigated the dynamics of hunted populations of {P}teropus ornatus and {P}. tonganus in the {N}orthern {P}rovince of {N}ew {C}aledonia. {F}irst, an ethno-ecological survey involving 219 local experts identified 494 flying fox roosts. {C}urrent status was assessed for 379 of them, among which 125 were no longer occupied, representing a loss of 33% over ca. 40 years. {S}econd, species-specific counts conducted at 35 roosts, and a sample of animals killed by hunters, revealed that the endemic species, {P}. ornatus, was dominant (68.5%). {B}etween 2010 and 2016, 30 roosts were counted annually during the pre-parturition period. {R}oosts size averaged 1,425 2,151 individuals ({N} = 180 counts) and showed high among-year variations (roost-specific {CV} = 37-162%). {I}f we recorded significant inter-annual variation, we did not detect a significant decline over the 7-yr period, although one roost went possibly extinct. {P}opulation size of the two species combined was estimated at 338,000-859,000 individuals distributed over ca. 400 roosts in the {N}orthern {P}rovince. {F}lying-foxes are popular game species and constitute traditional food for all communities of {N}ew {C}aledonia. {A}nnual bags derived from a food survey allowed us to estimate harvesting rates at 5-14%. {S}uch a level of harvesting for species with a 'slow' demography, the occurrence of poaching and illegal trade, suggest the current species use might not be sustainable and further investigations are critically needed.},
  keywords = {{NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {O}ne},
  volume = {14},
  numero = {12},
  pages = {art. e0224466 [16 ]},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0224466},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010077970},
}