Estimating uncertainties and sources of error in population monitoring of the Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus)RiS : 6188

Monitoring population dynamics of wild ungulates relies on accurate estimates of population size and vital rates. However, errors in population monitoring methods can be numerous (e.g. lack of repeated measurement, sampling time period, observer bias etc. ) and in most studies they are not investigated, thus threatening the robustness of results. In my master thesis I evaluate the uncertainties in the population counts of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus). I will use the existing and new data collected during field work in 2013 (supported by AFG) and in 2014 on repeated population counts and Distance Sampling of the Svalbard reindeer to evaluate the uncertainties in population parameters and how they vary in space, time and with different sampling methods. Assessing precisely the demographic and population dynamical fluctuations in this long studied reindeer population is very important to understand reindeer population dynamics under the threat of climate change. The main tool for eval uating the uncertainties is using repeated population counts in the field. I focus on the Ny-Ålesund area where data has been collected annually from 1978 till present. In the winter and summer field season 2013 I successfully conducted fieldwork by suppo rt from AFG and the Norwegian Polar Institute for my thesis. Additional repeat counts of the reindeer population during the winter monitoring survey in 2014 is highly relevant for my thesis work and will increase the precision in my estimates.