AHM workshop, Patuxent, 17-21 July 2023

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AHM workshop, Patuxent, 17-21 July 2023

Postby Marc Kery » Wed Jan 25, 2023 4:04 pm

Intermediate-level workshop (in person)
Applied hierarchical modelling (AHM) for species distribution and abundance

Instructors: Marc Kéry, Ken Kellner & Andy Royle
Swiss Ornithological Institute, Switzerland; Michigan State University, MI, USA; USGS Eastern Science Center, MD, USA
Date: 17–21 July 2023
Venue: USGS Eastern Science Center (formerly known as "Patuxent Wildlife Research Center"), Laurel MD
Computers: Bring your own laptop with R and JAGS and R packages NIMBLE, unmarked, and ubms
Registration: 600 US$ (normal rate), 400 US$ (student rate)

Hierarchical models (HMs) are tremendously powerful in the modeling of species distribution and abundance, because they enable one to separately model the actual quantity of interest (typically presence/absence or abundance) from the measurement errors that contaminate all SDM data sets: false negatives and false positives. When these ubiquitous sources of errors are not adequately modeled, serious bias may result and jeopardize scientific conclusions and management decisions based on such data sets.
In this workshop we present some of the most useful HMs for species distribution and abundance and for both static and dynamic (i.e., changing) populations. Specifically, we cover the following topics:
• Occupancy models for binary detection/nondetection data
• Binomial N-mixture models for replicated count data
• Multinomial N-mixture models for replicated capture-recapture data
• Distance sampling models for a variety of distance sampling protocols
• Modeling of false positives
• Integrating multiple data types and integrated models
The course will be based on the two successful books "Applied hierarchical modeling in Ecology" by Kéry & Royle (Volume 1/2016, Volume 2/2021). Model fitting will be conducted by likelihood methods (i.e., through the R package unmarked) and by Bayesian MCMC methods through software JAGS, NIMBLE and the R package ubms.
In this intermediate-level workshop about 90% of the time is spent on lecturing and 10% on solving exercises. Some previous experience with BUGS software, or Bayesian statistics, is not assumed, but helpful, as is some previous exposure to occupancy and Nmix models. However, a good working knowledge of modern regression methods and of program R is required.
Please send your application to Andy Royle (aroyle@usgs.gov), with CC to marc.kery@vogelwarte.ch and kellner7@msu.edu, and describe your background and knowledge in statistical modelling, R and JAGS/Nimble, and occupancy/Nmix models, by 30 April 2023. One or two course fee waivers will be available provided we get a sufficient number of paying sign-ups. To apply, please send us a description (at most 0.5 page) of why the course would be important for your work and why you should get a waiver.
Marc Kery
 
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