Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses
Abstract Moose management throughout much of Alaska and Canada relies on aerial count data, which are commonly collected using the geospatial population estimator (GSPE) protocol. The GSPE uses a model‐based analytical approach and finite‐population block kriging to estimate abundance from a collect...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22220 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jwmg.22220 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jwmg.22220 |
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crwiley:10.1002/jwmg.22220 2024-06-02T08:15:56+00:00 Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses Schmidt, Joshua H. Cameron, Matthew D. Joly, Kyle Pruszenski, Jordan M. Reynolds, Joel H. Sorum, Mathew S. 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22220 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jwmg.22220 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jwmg.22220 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 86, issue 5 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 journal-article 2022 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22220 2024-05-03T11:49:54Z Abstract Moose management throughout much of Alaska and Canada relies on aerial count data, which are commonly collected using the geospatial population estimator (GSPE) protocol. The GSPE uses a model‐based analytical approach and finite‐population block kriging to estimate abundance from a collection of sampled survey units. Widespread implementation and well‐documented analytical software have resulted in reliable estimates of moose abundance, density, and composition across a large proportion of their range. Analysis is conducted almost exclusively using the GSPE software, which fits a fixed model structure to data collected within a single year. The downside of this approach to analysis is that the fixed model structure is inefficient for estimation, leading to more field effort than would otherwise be necessary to achieve a desired level of estimator precision. We developed a more easily modified and flexible Bayesian spatial general additive model approach (BSG) that accommodates spatial and temporal covariates (e.g., habitat characteristics, trend), multiple survey events, prior information, and incomplete detection. Using a series of 6 GSPE surveys conducted in Yukon‐Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska, USA, from 2003–2019, we established the equivalence of the 2 approaches under similar model structures. We then extended the BSG to demonstrate how a more comprehensive approach to analysis can affect estimator precision and be used to assess ecological relationships. The precision of annual abundance estimators from the BSG were improved by an average of 43% over those based on the standard GSPE analysis, highlighting the very real costs of assuming a fixed (i.e., suboptimal) model structure. The population increased at a rate of 2.3%/year (95% CrI = 0.8–3.8%), and the increase was largely explained by a parallel increase in wildfire extent (i.e., high quality moose habitat). These results suggest that our approach could be used to increase estimator efficiency or decrease future survey costs ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Alaska Yukon Wiley Online Library Canada Yukon The Journal of Wildlife Management 86 5 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Moose management throughout much of Alaska and Canada relies on aerial count data, which are commonly collected using the geospatial population estimator (GSPE) protocol. The GSPE uses a model‐based analytical approach and finite‐population block kriging to estimate abundance from a collection of sampled survey units. Widespread implementation and well‐documented analytical software have resulted in reliable estimates of moose abundance, density, and composition across a large proportion of their range. Analysis is conducted almost exclusively using the GSPE software, which fits a fixed model structure to data collected within a single year. The downside of this approach to analysis is that the fixed model structure is inefficient for estimation, leading to more field effort than would otherwise be necessary to achieve a desired level of estimator precision. We developed a more easily modified and flexible Bayesian spatial general additive model approach (BSG) that accommodates spatial and temporal covariates (e.g., habitat characteristics, trend), multiple survey events, prior information, and incomplete detection. Using a series of 6 GSPE surveys conducted in Yukon‐Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska, USA, from 2003–2019, we established the equivalence of the 2 approaches under similar model structures. We then extended the BSG to demonstrate how a more comprehensive approach to analysis can affect estimator precision and be used to assess ecological relationships. The precision of annual abundance estimators from the BSG were improved by an average of 43% over those based on the standard GSPE analysis, highlighting the very real costs of assuming a fixed (i.e., suboptimal) model structure. The population increased at a rate of 2.3%/year (95% CrI = 0.8–3.8%), and the increase was largely explained by a parallel increase in wildfire extent (i.e., high quality moose habitat). These results suggest that our approach could be used to increase estimator efficiency or decrease future survey costs ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Schmidt, Joshua H. Cameron, Matthew D. Joly, Kyle Pruszenski, Jordan M. Reynolds, Joel H. Sorum, Mathew S. |
spellingShingle |
Schmidt, Joshua H. Cameron, Matthew D. Joly, Kyle Pruszenski, Jordan M. Reynolds, Joel H. Sorum, Mathew S. Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses |
author_facet |
Schmidt, Joshua H. Cameron, Matthew D. Joly, Kyle Pruszenski, Jordan M. Reynolds, Joel H. Sorum, Mathew S. |
author_sort |
Schmidt, Joshua H. |
title |
Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses |
title_short |
Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses |
title_full |
Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses |
title_fullStr |
Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses |
title_full_unstemmed |
Bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses |
title_sort |
bayesian spatial modeling of moose count data: increasing estimator efficiency and exploring ecological hypotheses |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22220 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jwmg.22220 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jwmg.22220 |
geographic |
Canada Yukon |
geographic_facet |
Canada Yukon |
genre |
Alaska Yukon |
genre_facet |
Alaska Yukon |
op_source |
The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 86, issue 5 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22220 |
container_title |
The Journal of Wildlife Management |
container_volume |
86 |
container_issue |
5 |
_version_ |
1800740263995375616 |