Salamander Mark-Recapture using SPARCnet plots with the Schnabel Method (Version 2.0) 

By Kristine Grayson and Raisa Hernández Pacheco

Module Description:

This is a salamander capture-mark-recapture lab module where students visit the field and collect a third survey occasion to estimate population size.  This module is designed for locations where students can visit SPARCnet salamander mark-recapture sites. Students are provided with capture history data for two sampling occasions. In the field, students carry out the third capture sample occasion (scoring the individual mark or recording the individual as new). For the analysis portion, students learn the difference between the Peterson method and the Schnabel method for estimating population size from mark-recapture data. This lab takes two periods, one for field data collection and one for data analysis. Capture history data for the three occasions and a diagram of the plot arrangement is provided for groups with no access to the field.

Teaching Setting:

This lab module is designed for students in an Introductory Quantitative Biology or Ecology course.

QUBES Citation:

Kristine Grayson, Raisa Hernández Pacheco (2018). Salamander Mark-Recapture using SPARCnet plots with the Schnabel Method.SPARCnet: Educational Resources, (Version 2.0). QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/Q4XM8Z

Related Materials and Opportunities:

This resource was created by members of SPARCnet (Salamander Population and Adaptation Research Collaboration Network), which is a regional collaborative network designed to meet scientific and educational objectives associated with understanding the effects of climate change and land use on salamander populations.  The authors recently shared this version (version 2.0) of the resource, which was updated to include a data sheet for classrooms with no access to the field.  Click on the “Versions” tab in the full resource record for links to both versions of this resource.  Cumulatively, both version of this resource had a whopping 196 views and 42 downloads at the time of this ROW posting!