How many are left? Density and population size of the endangered Sierra Madre Sparrow across central Mexico
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
How many are left? Density and population size of the endangered Sierra Madre Sparrow across central Mexico Rubén Ortega‑Álvarez1 · Rafael Calderón‑Parra2 · Ulises Martínez Molina3 · Fredy Martínez Molina3 · Gabriel Martínez Molina3 · Yuridia Martínez Molina3 · Agustín Martínez Villagrán3 · Josué Daniel Martínez Freire3 · Rocío Vásquez Robles3 · Delfino García Loaeza3 · Jaciel Martínez García3 · Sarai García Loaeza3 · Nancy Isabel Garduño López3 · Rosa Marina Rodríguez Marín2 · Luis A. Sánchez‑González1 Received: 31 March 2020 / Revised: 20 August 2020 / Accepted: 10 September 2020 © Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft e.V. 2020
Abstract Density estimation is fundamental for animal conservation. Yet, ignoring the effects of detectability can bias density estimations, resulting in unreliable management strategies for threatened species. We estimated the density of the Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi), an endangered species endemic to specific grasslands of Mexico, using hierarchical modelling techniques accounting for detectability and allowing the inclusion of covariates. These models enabled us to analyze the relationship between density and habitat characteristics, therefore providing robust estimations under different habitat scenarios. Moreover, we measured the remaining surface of subalpine grassland across central Mexico to estimate the population size of the species. We performed the study by including local community members that were familiar with the studied species in the definition of research objectives, bird surveys, and habitat characterization. We found that herb cover had a positive effect on the density of the sparrow. Hence, this habitat trait should be taken into account for guiding management, restoration, and conservation activities for the habitat of the species. Measurement of the subalpine grassland surface indicated the importance of Llano de Morales, a site located within communal lands that contains ~ 70.1% of the remaining habitat for the species. Our field-based scenario suggested that the population is composed of ~ 4089 individuals, confirming the conservation concern about the species. Because most of the subalpine grassland is located within lands owned by rural and indigenous communities, a participatory science approach is imperative for conserving the sparrow. Considering detectability and including the effect of covariates when estimating density is crucial for providing reliable information to preserve endangered species such as the Sierra Madre Sparrow. Keywords Citizen science · Community-based monitoring · Endemic bird · Grasslands · Imperfect detection · Xenospiza baileyi
Communicated by T. Gottschalk. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01820-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Rubén Ortega‑Álvarez [email protected] 1
Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Univ
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