Resumen

GONZALEZ-GARCIA, Fernando et al. Standardized protocol for monitoring the Horned Guan population, Oreophasis derbianus: a proposal for field and analytical methods. Huitzil [online]. 2017, vol.18, n.1, pp.185-201. ISSN 1870-7459.

Robust estimates of population size of wildlife are a fundamental requirement in ecological studies and to design and implement strategies for conservation. However, in some cases these estimates lack exactitude, precision, and are neither representative nor comparable. This has brought difficulty to make generalizations and has limited the applicability of the information produced from species populations. This is the case of the Horned Guan, Oreophasis derbianus, a Mesoamerican endemic and endangered bird species. Here, we propose a standardized protocol of field and analytical methods for the study of this species populations. This proposal is based on our experience in the species monitoring and in the use of the distance sampling theory. The aim of this standardized protocol is to produce high quality field data to have robust estimates of the population abundance of the Horned Guan. We developed and assessed this protocol mainly in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, but it was also replicated in three other localities in Mexico and Guatemala. Its development and assessment included monthly gathering of field data for about 10 years and training workshops to field personnel for the appropriate implementation of this protocol. Based on this experience, we defined some basic and feasible guidelines that we propose to be regarded as standard sampling and analytical methods for the study of the Horned Guan populations to assure quality and comparability of the field data gathered. Finally, we give estimates of the population density of the Horned Guan in the four localities we studied and discuss the meaning of their spatial and temporal variation within the context of this proposal.

Palabras llave : Cracidae; density; distance sampling; monitoring; training; tropical montane cloud forest; Chiapas; Guatemala.

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