Mt. Meager Goat Survey Report 2009
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Mt. Meager complex Mt. Meager mountain goat aerial survey and DNA census, 2009 Prepared for: British Columbia Conservation Foundation 206 - 17564 56A Avenue Surrey, BC V3S 1G3 Prepared by: Kim G. Poole1 and Darryl M. Reynolds2 March 2010 1 Aurora Wildlife Research, 2305 Annable Road, Nelson BC V1L 6K4; [email protected] 2 Ministry of Environment, Lower Mainland Region, P.O. Box 950 Stn. Prov. Govt., Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0; [email protected] Mt. Meager mountain goat aerial and DNA inventory, 2009 ii ABSTRACT Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are managed as a big game species in British Columbia, and as such estimates of population size are required to document population trend and to establish hunting quotas. Here we estimated population size in the Mt. Meager complex of southwestern British Columbia, using both conventional aerial survey techniques, and an estimate derived from identification of individuals using DNA obtained from faecal pellet and hair samples collected on the mountain complex during 3 sampling sessions. We followed standard techniques for the aerial survey using a Bell 206B helicopter. On 21 July 2009 we used 2.2 hrs of helicopter survey time and surveyed a 90-km2 census zone of potential goat habitat under good conditions. Overall survey effort averaged 1.4 min/km2, with greater effort on the south side of mountain complex where goats typically reside. We observed 60 goats (48 adults, 12 kids) in 15 groups. Kids comprised 20% of total goats (25 kids:100 adults [non-kids]). Groups were distributed from 1,700 to 2,450 m elevation. Based on past research, we subjectively applied a sightability of 0.70 to derive an estimate of 86 goats (69 adults) (density of 0.95 goats/km2). Population trends over the past 2–3 decades are difficult to determine because of differences in techniques, timing, and survey effort. At best, survey data suggest a possible increase in recent years, but possibly lower numbers than found during the 1980s and early 1990s. The causes of changes in population size over time are unknown, but may involve a comparatively high female harvest and influences of wolf (Canis lupus) predation. For the DNA inventory, sampling crews collected 490 samples over 3 sampling sessions between mid-July and early September 2009, of which 91% were pellet samples and the remaining were hair. Using 7 markers, we identified 55 individuals from 170 samples that were successfully genotyped. We used a Jackknife heterogeneity model to estimate a population of 77 mountain goats (SE =7.4, 95% CI 68–96, CV = 9.6). The mean capture probability was 0.38 per session. Genotyping success was higher for pellets (56%) than for hair (32%), and was lower for pellets during session 2 (31%) compared with sessions 1 and 3 (63–68%), likely related to heavy rain events in the week prior to session 2 collection. The estimate from the aerial survey with sightability correction applied was higher than the DNA- derived estimate. However, the DNA-derived estimate was associated with a measure of variance not available from the aerial survey. The DNA-derived estimate suggested sightability of 0.78 during the aerial survey. Our innovative technique using non-invasive sample collection in a mark-recapture design proved one of the first estimates of abundance of an ungulate species using DNA derived from faecal pellets. We suggest this technique can be applied in a number of situations, for example where ungulates occupy a moderately discrete area with low sightability (such as in heavily forested areas) and reasonable access. Costs and effectiveness can be optimized using rigorous field and laboratory protocols. Non-invasive sample collection and DNA genotyping of ungulate pellets will provide managers with rigorous and statistically quantified estimates that can be used for conservation and management. Aurora Wildlife Research Mt. Meager mountain goat aerial and DNA inventory, 2009 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... ii INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 1 STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................................... 2 STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................... 4 Aerial survey ............................................................................................................................................. 4 DNA sampling ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Population estimate from DNA sampling .................................................................................................. 6 Harvest data.............................................................................................................................................. 6 RESULTS...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Aerial survey ............................................................................................................................................. 6 DNA sampling ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Population estimate from DNA sampling ................................................................................................ 10 Genotyping success................................................................................................................................ 10 Harvest data............................................................................................................................................ 12 DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................................................. 13 Aerial survey ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Population estimate from DNA sampling ................................................................................................ 14 Management recommendations ............................................................................................................. 16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 16 LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................................................. 17 APPENDIX 1. Personnel participating in the Mt. Meager mountain goat study, 2009. .............................. 21 Aurora Wildlife Research Mt. Meager mountain goat aerial and DNA inventory, 2009 1 INTRODUCTION Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are an important species in British Columbia, valued by First Nations and recreational hunters, and viewed as a symbol of rugged mountains and true wilderness. Over half of the world population occurs in the province. While widespread throughout much of the province, the Lower Mainland Region (Region 2) in southwestern British Columbia contains only an estimated 3% (1,000–1,700 mountain goats) of the provincial total (Shackleton 1999, Mountain Goat Management Team 2010). Although inventory data are sparse, it is perceived that goat populations are stable or declining in much of the region (D. Reynolds, BC Environment, unpubl. data). General open seasons for hunting mountain goats occur only in the northwestern half of the region, although difficulty of access has resulted in an average harvest of about 2 animals annually. Periodic surveys are required to update population estimates to ensure that harvests are sustainable. Accurate estimates of mountain goat populations are difficult to obtain. Helicopter are generally used to conduct total counts of mountain goats within most areas of British Columbia, with a sightability correction applied afterwards for animals missed during the survey (RISC 2002, Poole 2007b). No measures of variance are available with this technique. Other techniques used to estimate population size are less developed (Poole 2007b). Reliable mark-resight techniques have not been well tested and tend to produce wide confidence limits (Smith and Bovee 1984, Cichowski et al. 1994, Poole et al. 2000, Pauley and Crenshaw 2006). Regression-based sightability correction models have only recently begun to be developed for mountain goats (Poole 2007b, Rice et al. 2009), where group size, terrain obstructions and vegetation cover are principle factors affecting sightability. Non-invasive collection of tissue samples to obtain DNA for microsatellite genotyping required to identify individuals and produce estimates of population size has been used for a number of wildlife species, mainly carnivores (e.g., Woods et al. 1999, Mowat and Paetkau 2002, Paetkau 2003). Most studies have obtained DNA from hair collected using barbed wire or glue. Collection of faecal pellet samples (hereafter pellets) is attractive because of the ease of collection, potential for obtaining large sample sizes, and reduced disturbance