David Fletcher
David Fletcher
is regarded as one of New Zealand’s top ecological statisticians and has an extensive international publication list. He has worked in statistical ecology and environmental statistics for the last ten years, both in university and as a consultant for a large number of organizations in this field. He has published 39 scientific papers and two conference proceedings. He has almost 20 years experience in teaching the concepts of applied statistics to scientists with little or no mathematical training, which has proved valuable in preparing technical reports for clients.


David's most recent publications:

2002
David Fletcher, Steve Dawson and Elisabeth Slooten. Designing a Mark-Recapture Study to Allow for Local Emigration. Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Statistics (in press).
David Fletcher. Assessing seasonal differences in Hooker’s sea lion locations. DOC Science Internal Series XX. New Zealand Department of Conservation, Wellington. 8pp.
Richard Barker, David Fletcher and Paul Scofield. Measuring density dependence in survival from mark-recapture data. Journal of Applied Statistics 29: 305-313.
Chris Jones, Susan Bettany, Henrik Moller, David Fletcher, Phil Lyver, and Justine de Cruz. 2002. Burrow occupancy and productivity at coastal sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) breeding colonies, South Island, New Zealand: can mark-recapture be used to estimate burrowscope accuracy? Wildlife Research (in press).

2001
David Fletcher. Bryan Frederick John Manly, Statistical Ecologist Supreme. New Zealand Statistical Association Newsletter, 53: 6-9.
Richard Barker and David Fletcher.  Introduction to the special issue on the estimation of animal abundance and related parameters. Journal of Agricultural, Environmental, and Biological Statistics 6:1-3.
Euan Harvey, David Fletcher and Mark Shortis. Estimation of reef fish length by divers and by stereo-video: A first comparison of the accuracy and precision in the field on living fish under operational conditions. Fisheries Research 1307: 1-11.
Richard Cuthbert, David Fletcher and Lloyd Davis. A sensitivity analysis of Hutton’s shearwater: prioritizing conservation research and management. Biological Conservation 100: 163-172.
Peter Moore, David Fletcher and Jacinda Amey. Population estimates of Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes on Campbell Island, 1987-1998. Emu 101: 225-236.
Euan Harvey, David Fletcher and Mark Shortis. A Comparison of the Precision and Accuracy of Estimates of Reef Fish Length Made by Divers and a Stereo-Video System. Fishery Bulletin 99:63-71.
Euan Harvey, David Fletcher and Mark Shortis. Improving the statistical power of visual length estimates of reef fish: a comparison of divers and stereo-video. Fishery Bulletin 99:72-80.
Paul Scofield, David Fletcher and Christopher Robertson. Titi (Sooty Shearwaters) on Whero Island: An analysis of historic banding data using modern capture-recapture techniques. Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Statistics 6:268-280.

2000
Elisabeth Slooten, David Fletcher and Barbara Taylor. Taking Account of Uncertainty in Management: Is Hector's Dolphin at Risk due to Mortality in Gillnet Fisheries? Conservation Biology 14: 1264-1270.
Christine Hunter, David Fletcher and Paul Scofield. Preliminary modelling of black petrels (Procellaria parkinsoni) to assess population status. Department of Conservation, Wellington.
Christine Hunter, Henrik Moller and David Fletcher. Parameter Uncertainty and Elasticity Analyses of a Population Model: Setting Research Priorities for Shearwaters. Ecological Modelling 134: 299-323.
Ilka Sohle, Henrik Moller, David Fletcher and Christopher Robertson. Telemetry reduces colony attendance by sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 27: 367-373.
Hiltrun Ratz, Henrik Moller and David Fletcher. Predator identification from bite marks on penguin and albatross chicks. Marine Ornithology 27: 149-156.

1999
David Fletcher, Henrik Moller and Kay Clapperton. Spotlight counts for assessing abundance of rabbits. Wildlife Research 26: 609-620.
Claire Cameron, Richard Barker, David Fletcher, Elisabeth Slooten and Stephen Dawson. Modelling Survival of Hector's Dolphins around Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Statistics 4: 126-135.
Nick Gales and David Fletcher. Abundance, distribution and status of the New Zealand sea lion. Wildlife Research 26: 35-52.
Henrik Moller, Justine deCruz, David Fletcher, Kim Garrett, Christine Hunter, Chris Jones, Jane Kitson, Phil Lyver, Jamie Newman, Detta Russell, Paul Scofield and Darren Scott.  Kia Mau Te Tïtï Mo Ake Tönu Atu: Goals, Design and Methods. University of Otago Wildlife Management Report Number 117. 76 pp.

1998
David Fletcher, Laimonis Kavalieris and Bryan F.J. Manly (Editors). Statistics in Ecology and Environmental Monitoring. II: Risk Assessment and Decision Making in Biology.. Otago University Press pp220. [ISSN 1170 3237]
Lars Bejder, David Fletcher and Stefan Bräger. Testing association patterns of a social mammal: Do Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) associate non-randomly? Animal Behaviour  56: 719-725.
Justine Cruz, Henrik Moller and David Fletcher. Testing the accuracy of an infra-red camera burrowscope. University of Otago Wildlife Management Report Number 103.
Bryan Manly, Allyson Seyb and David Fletcher. Fisheries By-catch Monitoring and Control. In Statistics in Ecology and Environmental Monitoring II: Risk Assessment and Decision Making in Biology. Otago University Press 121-130.
Bryan Manly, Allyson Seyb and David Fletcher. Analysis of the Accidental and Incidental Captures of Protected Species and Official Observer Coverage in Fisheries in New Zealand Waters for Fishing Seasons 1987/88 to 1995/96, with An Assessment of the Observer Coverage Required for the Future Monitoring of Fisheries. Science for Conservation: XX, Department of Conservation, Wellington.