Daily defecation rate is an important variable in density estimation of African (Loxodonta qfricana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants. However, there has been no attempt to construct a general model that predicts defecation rates. By comparing 16 published studies, we found that annual and seasonal daily defecation rates increased with annual rainfall following a power regression model. We recommend calculating defecation rates based on the regressions from our meta-analysis, rather than using a defecation rate from any single study.
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1 December 2010
Towards Standardisation of Population Estimates: Defecation Rates of Elephants Should be Assessed using a Rainfall Model
Jörn Theuerkauf,
Roman Gula
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Annales Zoologici Fennici
Vol. 47 • No. 6
December 2010
Vol. 47 • No. 6
December 2010