DOI: 10.5061/dryad.24s3c
title: Data from: Applying the multistate capture-recapture robust design to characterize metapopulation structure

description: 1. Population structure must be considered when developing mark-recapture
 (MR) study designs as the sampling of individuals from multiple
 populations (or subpopulations) may increase heterogeneity in individual
 capture probability. Conversely, the use of an appropriate MR study design
 which accommodates heterogeneity associated with capture-occasion varying
 covariates due to animals moving between ‘states’ (i.e. geographic sites)
 can provide insight into how animals are distributed in a particular
 environment and the status and connectivity of subpopulations. 2. The
 Multistate Closed Robust Design was chosen to investigate: 1) the
 demographic parameters of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
 aduncus) subpopulations in coastal and estuarine waters of Perth, Western
 Australia; and 2) how they are related to each other in a metapopulation.
 Using four years of year-round photo-identification surveys across three
 geographic sites, we accounted for heterogeneity of capture probability
 based on how individuals distributed themselves across geographic sites
 and characterized the status of subpopulations based on their abundance,
 survival and interconnection. 3. MSCRD models highlighted high
 heterogeneity in capture probabilities and demographic parameters between
 sites. High capture probabilities, high survival and constant abundances
 described a subpopulation with high fidelity in an estuary. In contrast,
 low captures, permanent and temporary emigration and fluctuating
 abundances suggested transient use and low fidelity in an open coastline
 site. 4. Estimates of transition probabilities also varied between sites,
 with estuarine dolphins visiting sheltered coastal embayments more
 regularly than coastal dolphins visited the estuary, highlighting some
 dynamics within the metapopulation. 6. Synthesis and applications. To
 date, bottlenose dolphin studies using mark-recapture approach have
 focussed on investigating single subpopulations. Here, in a heterogeneous
 coastal-estuarine environment, we demonstrated that spatially structured
 bottlenose dolphin subpopulations contained distinct suites of individuals
 and differed in size, demographics and connectivity. Such insights into
 the dynamics of a metapopulation can assist in local-scale species
 conservation. The MSCRD approach is applicable to species/populations
 consisting of recognizable individuals and is particularly useful for
 characterizing wildlife subpopulations that vary in their vulnerability to
 human activities, climate change or invasive species.
description: Mark_filesIn Mark_files.zip, there are two files to be used in Mark program, although the extension will need to be changed to .inp. In both files, each row represents an individual. In the file Mark_file_3States, 0 indicated no capture; 1 = the individual was observed in the Swan Canning Riverpark; 2 = the individual was observed in the Cockburn Sound/Owen Anchorage; and 3 = the individual was observed in Gage Roads. In the file Mark_file_2States, 0 indicated no capture; A = the individual was observed in the Swan Canning Riverpark; B = the individual was observed in the Coastal waters (Cockburn Sound/Owen Anchorage and Gage Roads combined).