This book on estimating abundance of populations concentrates on distance sampling, despite the fact that most current field studies for estimating abundance use such methods. For many years the line transect monograph by Burnham et al (1980) has been the "bible" on this topic. Now the same authors of that book, together with Dr Steve Buckland, have written this present book. It has been deliberately written for practising biologists in an exceptionally clear and relevant way. In particular, it develops line transect sampling more comprehensively and in greater detail and looks at recently developed point transect sampling methods and gives many clear examples. It should serve as a reference manual for all quantitative biologists and biostatisticians, as well as a wide range of other biologists, enabling the reader to determine appropriate survey design. A suite of computer programs, DISTANCE, described by the authors, prvoces comprehensive analyses and is available from the authors. This book should be of interest to population biologists; ecologists; wildlife biologists; and biological statisticians.

Table of Contents:
1 Introductory concepts.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Range of applications.- 1.3 Types of data.- 1.4 Known constants and parameters.- 1.5 Assumptions.- 1.6 Fundamental concept.- 1.7 Detection.- 1.8 History of methods.- 1.9 Program DISTANCE.- 2 Assumptions and modelling philosophy.- 2.1 Assumptions.- 2.2 Fundamental models.- 2.3 Philosophy and strategy.- 2.4 Robust models.- 2.5 Some analysis guidelines.- 3 Statistical theory.- 3.1 General formula.- 3.2 Hazard-rate modelling of the detection process.- 3.3 The key function formulation for distance data.- 3.4 Maximum likelihood methods.- 3.5 Choice of model.- 3.6 Estimation for clustered populations.- 3.7 Density, variance and interval estimation.- 3.8 Stratification and covariates.- 4 Line transects.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Example data.- 4.3 Truncation.- 4.4 Estimating the variance in sample size.- 4.5 Analysis of grouped or ungrouped data.- 4.6 Model selection.- 4.7 Estimation of density and measures of precision.- 4.8 Estimation when the objects are in clusters.- 4.9 Assumptions.- 4.10 Summary.- 5 Point transects.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Example data.- 5.3 Truncation.- 5.4 Estimating the variance in sample size.- 5.5 Analysis of grouped or ungrouped data.- 5.6 Model selection.- 5.7 Estimation of density and measures of precision.- 5.8 Estimation when the objects are in clusters.- 5.9 Assumptions.- 5.10 Summary.- 6 Extensions and related work.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Other models.- 6.3 Modelling variation in encounter rate and cluster size.- 6.4 Estimation of the probability of detection on the line or point.- 6.5 On the concept of detection search effort.- 6.6 Fixed versus random sample size.- 6.7 Efficient simulation of distance data.- 6.8 Thoughts about a full likelihood approach.- 6.9 Distance sampling in three dimensions.- 6.10 Cue counting.- 6.11 Trapping webs.- 6.12 Migration counts.- 6.13 Point-to-object and nearest neighbour methods.- 7 Study design and field methods.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Survey design.- 7.3 Searching behaviour.- 7.4 Measurements.- 7.5 Training observers.- 7.6 Field methods for mobile objects.- 7.7 Field methods when detection on the centerline is not certain.- 7.8 Field comparisons between line transects, point transects and mapping censuses.- 7.9 Summary.- 8 Illustrative examples.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Lake Huron brick data.- 8.3 Wooden stake data.- 8.4 Studies of nest density.- 8.5 Fin whale abundance in the North Atlantic.- 8.6 Use of tuna vessel observer data to assess trends in abundance of dolphins.- 8.7 House wren densities in South Platte River bottomland.- 8.8 Songbird surveys in Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.- 8.9 Assessing the effects of habitat on density.- Appendix A List of common and scientific names cited.- Appendix B Notation and abbreviations, and their definitions.