Inferring species extinction from sighting data

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Biodiversity Science

Background:

• Accurate species management relies on understanding persistence and extinction timelines.
• Sighting data, encompassing diverse evidence types, forms the basis for assessing species existence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing methodologies for inferring species extinction from sighting records.
• To elucidate the assumptions and applications of these extinction inference methods.
• To provide a computational tool for applying these methods.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of scientific literature on species extinction inference from sighting data.
• Development and presentation of an RShiny package for practical application of reviewed methods.

Main Results:

• Identified and categorized various methods for inferring species extinction.
• Provided a comprehensive overview of the assumptions and applicability of each method.
• Developed a user-friendly RShiny package to facilitate the implementation of these techniques.

Conclusions:

• The reviewed methods offer valuable tools for inferring species extinction.
• Further research can enhance the capabilities of extinction inference techniques.
• The RShiny package serves as a practical resource for conservation practitioners and researchers.