Design and Analysis of Long-term Ecological Monitoring Studies

by Edited by Robert A. Gitzen , Joshua J. Millspaugh , Andrew B. Cooper , Daniel S. Licht

• ISBN13: 9780521139298
• ISBN10: 0521139295
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-07-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

To provide useful and meaningful information, long-term ecological programs need to implement solid and efficient statistical approaches for collecting and analyzing data. This volume provides rigorous guidance on quantitative issues in monitoring, with contributions from world experts in the field. These experts have extensive experience in teaching fundamental and advanced ideas and methods to natural resource managers, scientists and students. The chapters present a range of tools and approaches, including detailed coverage of variance component estimation and quantitative selection among alternative designs; spatially balanced sampling; sampling strategies integrating design- and model-based approaches; and advanced analytical approaches such as hierarchical and structural equation modelling. Making these tools more accessible to ecologists and other monitoring practitioners across numerous disciplines, this is a valuable resource for any professional whose work deals with ecological monitoring. Supplementary example software code is available online at www.cambridge.org/9780521191548.

Table of Contents

List of contributors

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

Overview:

Ecological monitoring: the heart of the matter

An overview of statistical considerations in long-term monitoring

Monitoring (that) matters

Maximizing the utility of monitoring to the adaptive management of natural resources

Survey Design:

Spatial sampling designs for long-term ecological monitoring

Spatially balanced survey designs for natural resources

The role of monitoring design in detecting trend in long-term ecological monitoring studies

Estimating variance components and related parameters when planning long-term monitoring programs

Variance components estimation for continuous and discrete data, with emphasis on cross-classified sampling designs

Simulating future uncertainty to guide the selection of survey designs for long-term monitoring

Data Analysis:

Analysis options for estimating status and trends in long-term monitoring

Analytical options for estimating ecological thresholds - statistical considerations

The treatment of missing data in long-term monitoring programs

Survey analysis in natural resource monitoring programs with a focus on cumulative distribution functions

Structural equation modeling and the analysis of long-term monitoring data

Advanced Issues and Applications:

GRTS and graphs: monitoring natural resources in urban landscapes

Incorporating predicted species distribution in adaptive and conventional sampling designs

Study design and analysis options for demographic and species occurrence dynamics

Dealing with incomplete and variable detectability in multi-year, multi-site monitoring of ecological populations

Optimal spatio-temporal monitoring designs for characterizing population trends

Use of citizen-science monitoring for pattern discovery and biological inference

Conclusion:

Institutionalizing an effective long-term monitoring program in the U.S. National Park Service

Choosing among long-term ecological monitoring programs and knowing when to stop

References

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.