Integrated modelling of seabird-habitat associations from multi-platform data: a review

Matthiopoulos, J. , Wakefield, E. , Jeglinski, J. W.E. , Furness, R. W., Trinder, M., Tyler, G., McCluskie, A., Allen, S., Braithwaite, J. and Evans, T. (2022) Integrated modelling of seabird-habitat associations from multi-platform data: a review. Journal of Applied Ecology, 59(4), pp. 909-920. (doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.14114)

[img] Text
263103.pdf - Accepted Version

1MB

Abstract

Quantifying current and future overlap between human activities and wildlife is a core and growing aim of ecological study, spurring ever more spatial data collection and diversification of observation techniques (surveys, telemetry, citizen science etc.). To meet this aim, data collected via multiple platforms, across different geographical and temporal regions, may need to be integrated, yet many ecologists remain unclear about the relationships between data types and therefore how they can be combined. In seabird research, these applied questions can be particularly pressing because many human activities (e.g. tidal and wind renewables, fishing, shipping, etc.) are concentrated in coastal waters, where many seabirds also aggregate, especially while breeding. In addition, seabird coloniality and density dependence present unique analytical challenges. We review the relevant literature on data integration and illustrate it with example models and data (in an accompanying R-library and vignette (J Matthiopoulos et al., 2022)), to derive methodological and quantitative guidelines for best practice in conducting joint inference for multi-platform data. We use systematic survey data to motivate the key arguments, but also overview developments in integration with other data (e.g., telemetry tracking, citizen science, mark-recapture). We make recommendations on (1) the use of response and explanatory data, (2) the treatment of survey design and observation errors, (3) exploiting dependencies across space and time, (4) accounting for biological phenomena, such as commuting costs from the colony (i.e., accessibility) and density dependence, and (5) the choice of statistical framework. Synthesis and application: Integrated analysis of multi-platform data turns many of the seabird-specific challenges into opportunities for inferring habitat associations and predicting future distributions. Our review proposes practical recommendations for data collection and analysis that will allow seabird conservation to derive maximal benefits from these opportunities.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Furness, Professor Robert and Wakefield, Dr Ewan and Matthiopoulos, Professor Jason and Jeglinski, Dr Jana
Authors: Matthiopoulos, J., Wakefield, E., Jeglinski, J. W.E., Furness, R. W., Trinder, M., Tyler, G., McCluskie, A., Allen, S., Braithwaite, J., and Evans, T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Journal of Applied Ecology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0021-8901
ISSN (Online):1365-2664
Published Online:13 January 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 British Ecological Society
First Published:First published in Journal of Applied Ecology 59(4): 909-920
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record