Models for inference in dynamic metacommunity systems

• DOI: 10.1890/09-1033.1
• Publication Date: 2010-07-21T20:17:28Z
• Authors: Robert M. Dorazio; Marc Kéry; J. Andrew Royle; Matthias Plattner
• Keywords: Metacommunity; Occupancy; Extinction (optical mineralogy); Statistical Inference

A variety of processes are thought to be involved in the formation and dynamics species assemblages. For example, various metacommunity theories based on differences relative contributions dispersal among local communities interactions within communities. Interestingly, continue advanced without much empirical validation. Part problem is that statistical models used analyze typical survey data either fail specify ecological with sufficient, complexity or they account for errors detection during sampling. In this paper, we describe a modeling framework analysis idea adopting unified approach, multispecies occupancy modeling, computing inferences about individual species, entire species. This approach accounts sampling also allows different paradigms specified terms species- location-specific probabilities occurrence, extinction, colonization: all which estimable. addition, can address inference problems arise conservation ecology, such as predicting temporal spatial changes biodiversity use making decisions. To illustrate, estimate composition associated species-specific phenologies flight patterns butterflies Switzerland purpose estimating regional biodiversity.