Hierarchical models and Bayesian analysis of bird survey information
Conference held March 20-24, 2002, Asilomar, California PDF on file: 6516_Sauer.pdf
Edited by: C. John Ralph and Terrell D. Rich
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Abstract
Summary of bird survey information is a critical component of conservation activities, but often our summaries rely on statistical methods that do not accommodate the limitations of the information. Prioritization of species requires ranking and analysis of species by magnitude of population trend, but often magnitude of trend is a misleading measure of actual decline when trend is poorly estimated. Aggregation of population information among regions is also complicated by varying quality of estimates among regions. Hierarchical models provide a reasonable means of accommodating concerns about aggregation and ranking of quantities of varying precision. In these models the need to consider multiple scales is accommodated by placing distributional assumptions on collections of parameters. For collections of species trends, this allows probability statements to be made about the collections of species-specific parameters, rather than about the estimates. We define and illustrate hierarchical models for two commonly encountered situations in bird conservation: (1) Estimating attributes of collections of species estimates, including ranking of trends, estimating number of species with increasing populations, and assessing population stability with regard to predefined trend magnitudes; and (2) estimation of regional population change, aggregating information from bird surveys over strata. User-friendly computer software makes hierarchical models readily accessible to scientists.
Suggested Citation
Sauer, J., Link, W., Royle, J., 2005, Hierarchical models and Bayesian analysis of bird survey information, chap. of Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002, p. 762-770.
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | Hierarchical models and Bayesian analysis of bird survey information |
| Year Published | 2005 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U. S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| Publisher location | Albany, California |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 2 volumes: xiv, 1296 |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Other Government Series |
| Larger Work Title | Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002 |
| First page | 762 |
| Last page | 770 |