Data from: Using spatial capture–recapture to elucidate population processes and space-use in herpetological studies

The cryptic behavior and ecology of herpetofauna make estimating the impacts of environmental change on demography difficult; yet, the ability to measure demographic relationships is essential for elucidating mechanisms leading to the population declines reported for herpetofauna worldwide. Recently developed spatial capture–recapture (SCR) methods are well suited to standard herpetofauna monitoring approaches. Individually identifying animals and their locations allows accurate estimates of population densities and survival. Spatial capture–recapture methods also allow estimation of parameters describing space-use and movement, which generally are expensive or difficult to obtain using other methods. In this paper, we discuss the basic components of SCR models, the available software for conducting analyses, and the experimental designs based on common herpetological survey methods. We then apply SCR models to Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), to determine differences in density, survival, dispersal, and space-use between adult male and female salamanders. By highlighting the capabilities of SCR, and its advantages compared to traditional methods, we hope to give herpetologists the resource they need to apply SCR in their own systems.

爬行两栖类（herpetofauna）的隐秘行为与生态特性，使得评估环境变化对其种群统计学的影响颇具挑战；然而，量化种群统计学关系的能力，对于阐明全球范围内已报道的爬行两栖类种群衰退背后的作用机制至关重要。近年来发展的空间捕获-再捕获（spatial capture–recapture, SCR）方法，十分适配标准化的爬行两栖类监测流程。通过对个体进行标识并记录其采集位置，能够精准估算种群密度与存活率。空间捕获-再捕获方法还可用于估算描述物种空间利用与移动模式的参数，而这类参数通常难以通过其他手段获取，且成本高昂。本文将首先阐述SCR模型的基本构成、可用于开展相关分析的软件工具，以及基于常用爬行学调查方法的实验设计方案。随后，我们将SCR模型应用于红背蝾螈（Plethodon cinereus），以对比成年雄性与雌性蝾螈在种群密度、存活率、扩散能力以及空间利用模式上的差异。通过阐明SCR方法的应用潜力及其相较于传统方法的核心优势，我们期望为爬行学家提供所需的参考资源，助力其在各自的研究系统中应用SCR方法。