Combing genetic and photo-identification data to improve abundance estimates for the North Atlantic right whale

Abstract

Accurate abundance estimates are important for the management of species. Many abundance estimates are based off of capture-mark-recapture analyses which have several limitations that can reduce the accuracy of abundance estimates. By integrating pedigrees into abundance estimates, the accuracy of these estimates can be improved. In this study, a method created by Creel and Rosneblatt (2013) was adapted and used to estimate abundance of the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis). Both genetic and sightings data, obtained from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, were used to estimate abundance. This method is compared to the photo-identification method typically used to estimate abundance for this species. The results of this study suggest that the photo-identification method for this species is actually more accurate than other researchers have previously believed.