A comparison of monitoring designs to assess wildlife community parameters across spatial scales

Abstract/Summary

Dedicated long-term monitoring at appropriate spatial and temporal scales is necessary to develop effective conservation plans. Using an amphibian monitoring program for a network of U.S. National Parks, we compare monitoring program designs. Designs that reduce biases in parameter estimates are needed to guide conservation policy and management decisions in the face of broad scaled environmental challenges; the optimal design is sensitive to the specific objectives of a monitoring program.