Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana

Katara Salifu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11

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Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana

Katara Salifu

Published in American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics (Volume 12, Issue 2)

Received: 30 November 2022 Accepted: 3 January 2023 Published: 18 May 2023

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Abstract

Distance sampling with line transect method has been applied by many researchers to monitor and observe varied animals and plants with the aim of determining the population density and or abundance of animals. The application of this method has not received the needed attention in Ghana, in particular to monitor, observe, and estimate the densities and abundance of animals and plants in the game reserves of the Mole National Park (MNP) is not without exception and the statistics of these are always reported based on guesses and without any scientific proof. This study has seen the application of line transect methodology in the MNP in which the abundance estimates are statistically determined with both the classical and Bayesian philosophies of statistical approaches. An alternative means of detectability estimation using the total probability concept has been established to enhance the probability of detection of a rare and elusive population of large mammals. In performing statistical investigations on rare and elusive population, it appears insufficient to model from the classical perspective, the use of PRIOR knowledge as seen in the Bayesian context cannot be underestimated. This study proposed that the concept of Total Probability with prior knowledge of animals and plants in line transect surveys must be well embraced, Periodic censuss must be conducted regularly to help in establishing the rate of extinction of units of interest in wildlife and Distance sampling data with line transect sampling methodology need not be analysed using only the classical reasoning. Attention must be given to the existence and availability of prior knowledge of the units under study.

Published in	American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics (Volume 12, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11
Page(s)	18-31
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Distance Sampling, Detectability, Line Transect, Density, Abundance, Data Augmentation, Mole National Park

References

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APA Style

Katara Salifu. (2023). Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 12(2), 18-31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11

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ACS Style

Katara Salifu. Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. Am. J. Theor. Appl. Stat. 2023, 12(2), 18-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11

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AMA Style

Katara Salifu. Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. Am J Theor Appl Stat. 2023;12(2):18-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11,
  author = {Katara Salifu},
  title = {Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana},
  journal = {American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics},
  volume = {12},
  number = {2},
  pages = {18-31},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtas.20231202.11},
  abstract = {Distance sampling with line transect method has been applied by many researchers to monitor and observe varied animals and plants with the aim of determining the population density and or abundance of animals. The application of this method has not received the needed attention in Ghana, in particular to monitor, observe, and estimate the densities and abundance of animals and plants in the game reserves of the Mole National Park (MNP) is not without exception and the statistics of these are always reported based on guesses and without any scientific proof. This study has seen the application of line transect methodology in the MNP in which the abundance estimates are statistically determined with both the classical and Bayesian philosophies of statistical approaches. An alternative means of detectability estimation using the total probability concept has been established to enhance the probability of detection of a rare and elusive population of large mammals. In performing statistical investigations on rare and elusive population, it appears insufficient to model from the classical perspective, the use of PRIOR knowledge as seen in the Bayesian context cannot be underestimated. This study proposed that the concept of Total Probability with prior knowledge of animals and plants in line transect surveys must be well embraced, Periodic censuss must be conducted regularly to help in establishing the rate of extinction of units of interest in wildlife and Distance sampling data with line transect sampling methodology need not be analysed using only the classical reasoning. Attention must be given to the existence and availability of prior knowledge of the units under study.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana
AU  - Katara Salifu
Y1  - 2023/05/18
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11
T2  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JF  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JO  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
SP  - 18
EP  - 31
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-9006
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11
AB  - Distance sampling with line transect method has been applied by many researchers to monitor and observe varied animals and plants with the aim of determining the population density and or abundance of animals. The application of this method has not received the needed attention in Ghana, in particular to monitor, observe, and estimate the densities and abundance of animals and plants in the game reserves of the Mole National Park (MNP) is not without exception and the statistics of these are always reported based on guesses and without any scientific proof. This study has seen the application of line transect methodology in the MNP in which the abundance estimates are statistically determined with both the classical and Bayesian philosophies of statistical approaches. An alternative means of detectability estimation using the total probability concept has been established to enhance the probability of detection of a rare and elusive population of large mammals. In performing statistical investigations on rare and elusive population, it appears insufficient to model from the classical perspective, the use of PRIOR knowledge as seen in the Bayesian context cannot be underestimated. This study proposed that the concept of Total Probability with prior knowledge of animals and plants in line transect surveys must be well embraced, Periodic censuss must be conducted regularly to help in establishing the rate of extinction of units of interest in wildlife and Distance sampling data with line transect sampling methodology need not be analysed using only the classical reasoning. Attention must be given to the existence and availability of prior knowledge of the units under study.
VL  - 12
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Katara Salifu

Department of Statistics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Katara Salifu. (2023). Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 12(2), 18-31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11

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ACS Style

Katara Salifu. Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. Am. J. Theor. Appl. Stat. 2023, 12(2), 18-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11

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AMA Style

Katara Salifu. Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. Am J Theor Appl Stat. 2023;12(2):18-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11,
  author = {Katara Salifu},
  title = {Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana},
  journal = {American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics},
  volume = {12},
  number = {2},
  pages = {18-31},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtas.20231202.11},
  abstract = {Distance sampling with line transect method has been applied by many researchers to monitor and observe varied animals and plants with the aim of determining the population density and or abundance of animals. The application of this method has not received the needed attention in Ghana, in particular to monitor, observe, and estimate the densities and abundance of animals and plants in the game reserves of the Mole National Park (MNP) is not without exception and the statistics of these are always reported based on guesses and without any scientific proof. This study has seen the application of line transect methodology in the MNP in which the abundance estimates are statistically determined with both the classical and Bayesian philosophies of statistical approaches. An alternative means of detectability estimation using the total probability concept has been established to enhance the probability of detection of a rare and elusive population of large mammals. In performing statistical investigations on rare and elusive population, it appears insufficient to model from the classical perspective, the use of PRIOR knowledge as seen in the Bayesian context cannot be underestimated. This study proposed that the concept of Total Probability with prior knowledge of animals and plants in line transect surveys must be well embraced, Periodic censuss must be conducted regularly to help in establishing the rate of extinction of units of interest in wildlife and Distance sampling data with line transect sampling methodology need not be analysed using only the classical reasoning. Attention must be given to the existence and availability of prior knowledge of the units under study.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Abundance Determination of Large Mammals with Distance Sampling Perspective, the Case of Elephants of the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana
AU  - Katara Salifu
Y1  - 2023/05/18
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11
T2  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JF  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JO  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
SP  - 18
EP  - 31
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-9006
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20231202.11
AB  - Distance sampling with line transect method has been applied by many researchers to monitor and observe varied animals and plants with the aim of determining the population density and or abundance of animals. The application of this method has not received the needed attention in Ghana, in particular to monitor, observe, and estimate the densities and abundance of animals and plants in the game reserves of the Mole National Park (MNP) is not without exception and the statistics of these are always reported based on guesses and without any scientific proof. This study has seen the application of line transect methodology in the MNP in which the abundance estimates are statistically determined with both the classical and Bayesian philosophies of statistical approaches. An alternative means of detectability estimation using the total probability concept has been established to enhance the probability of detection of a rare and elusive population of large mammals. In performing statistical investigations on rare and elusive population, it appears insufficient to model from the classical perspective, the use of PRIOR knowledge as seen in the Bayesian context cannot be underestimated. This study proposed that the concept of Total Probability with prior knowledge of animals and plants in line transect surveys must be well embraced, Periodic censuss must be conducted regularly to help in establishing the rate of extinction of units of interest in wildlife and Distance sampling data with line transect sampling methodology need not be analysed using only the classical reasoning. Attention must be given to the existence and availability of prior knowledge of the units under study.
VL  - 12
IS  - 2
ER  -

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