Is it possible to estimate population density from line transect encounter data with no distance metric, simply frequency of encounter data?

I have several years of encounter data for spoor on a network of transects in an isolated National Park. The data do not include a distance metric (therefore the programme Distance doesn't work), but are simply record the frequency and location of encounters along a network of transects. The study species has a home range of approximately 1km2, is it possible to estimate population density from these data? Thank you!

Ecology

Zoology

Wildlife Ecology

Wildlife Biology

Biodiversity Monitoring

Biodiversity Research

JJ Neiff

Center for applied Ecology (CECOAL - National Council for Scientific and Technical Research )

Hi, Niall!

I like Fernando´s comment , you have to be very careful in estimating animal density with low density ( they are widely dispersed ) , You 're wondering about the possibility of using a line- transect to measure density. This estimate is conceptually wrong, because the line obviously has no surface . However, some approximation of the density of the objects touching the line may be approximated , if these objects are very dense ( many records on the line frequency ) . But in widely scattered objects ( tapir ) this is unreliable. Keep in mind also that this transect assumes that the objects are static (as with plants).

From what I understand , the question refers to a belt transect .

You need to really know how many there tapir ? Possibly enough to know if there are many , few, or ... according to a scale of abundance, or frequency . Transect line , used to obtain frequency , not density. The latter is conceptually invalid inference.