Sean HudsonMany rare and cryptic species pose a challenge to conservation scientists in that frequent encounters with them are few and far between. How can we properly conserve or even study species that we cannot reliably find? In partnership with Blazing Star Environmental, my MSc research focusses on detectability and drivers of imperfect detection in rare and cryptic species - specifically the Massasauga Rattlesnake & Eastern Foxsnake. Snakes are ideal species in which to study the effects of imperfect detection, as they are shy, exhibit sporadic activity patterns, have cryptic colouration, and often use inaccessible habitat. Using visual-encounter surveys, my fieldwork involves repeated searches for snakes in established sites across south-central Ontario, using a framework set out by Ontario’s Provincial Snake Survey Protocol. Currently the provincial protocol suffers from a lack of research on how detectability varies in relation to factors such as habitat complexity, survey intensity, local population density and observer experience. This research is directly applicable to improving Ontario’s Snake Survey Protocol, and highlights how integrating detectability into estimates of occupancy and abundance is key to creating rigorous assessments of species distribution and population dynamics.
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