Charles Darwin University

CDU eSpace
Institutional Repository

 
CDU Staff and Student only
 

Sampling Error for Hatchling Turtle Measurements: Probing a Rule-of-Thumb

Whiting, Scott D., Chaloupka, M. and Limpus, C. J. (2008). Sampling Error for Hatchling Turtle Measurements: Probing a Rule-of-Thumb. Copeia,2008(4):889-896.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Scopus Citation Count Cited 1 times in Scopus Article | Citations
Altmetric Score Altmetric Score is 3
Google Scholar Search Google Scholar

Title Sampling Error for Hatchling Turtle Measurements: Probing a Rule-of-Thumb
Author Whiting, Scott D.
Chaloupka, M.
Limpus, C. J.
Journal Name Copeia
Publication Date 2008
Volume Number 2008
Issue Number 4
ISSN 0045-8511   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-58149398303
Start Page 889
End Page 896
Total Pages 8
Place of Publication US
Publisher American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology
Field of Research 0608 - Zoology
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Despite the importance of understanding error associated with sampling, there has been a paucity of discussion in many analyses within sea turtle biology. We investigated sampling and non-sampling errors for size measurements (straight carapace length, straight carapace width, and mass) of hatchling Flatback Turtles, Natator depressus, from two study sites in tropical Australia using a priori and post hoc methods. A priori and post hoc methods produced similar error estimates (max difference = 0.19 g and 0.24 mm), highlighting methodologies that may be transferred for other species without requiring a census of every hatchling in a clutch. The standard practice of sampling ten hatchlings per nest resulted in reasonably low sampling error (upper 95% CI = 0.9 g for mass, 0.7 mm for straight carapace length, and 1.0 mm for straight carapace width), but sample size may be reduced if less precise size measurements are required. Effort analysis showed that sampling error from a nesting population was minimized when sampling effort was spread over the maximum number of clutches rather than concentrating effort within fewer clutches.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/CH-07-194   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Access Statistics: 176 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Tue, 12 May 2009, 13:14:04 CST by Sarena Wegener