Workshops

Beginner Distance Sampling


Conventional line and point transect distance sampling, with covariates, in R.

Session 1: 1:00pm - 5:00pm 12 November 2014 (Mountain time)

Session 2: 9:00am - 1:00pm 13 November 2014 (Mountain time)

Description

Estimating population abundance is a fundamental task in wildlife biology. Distance-sampling, implemented as line-transects or point-transects, is one of two primary abundance methods, the other being capture-recapture. Distance-sampling estimates abundance by correcting for detection that declines with increasing distance between observer and target. Conventional distance-sampling approaches which can contain detection covariates (e.g., Buckland et al. 2001, and basic models in Program Distance) have a rich history.

This workshop will introduce participants to conventional line and point transect methods for distance-sampling analysis in Program R. Participants will be able to identify and implement appropriate methods for a given study design. Participants will be exposed to multiple case studies of conventional distance sampling analyses in R.

Target Audience

The workshop is designed for managers, researchers, and students with a basic understanding of statistics and working familiarity with Program R. Someone who knows how to subset a data.frame, fit and work with lm and/or glm model objects in Program R should be able to follow our examples and utilize workshop scripts. Everyone, including R newbies, should benefit from the foundational ‘why’ and ‘when’ and ‘what’ discussions.

Outline

Session 1: 1:00pm - 5:00pm (MST) 12Nov24

  1. (1:00pm) Welcome
  2. (1:10pm) Conventional distance sampling (no covariates)
    1. Line transect methods and example
    2. Point transect methods and example
  3. (2:35pm) Break
  4. (3:00pm) Conventional distance analysis with detection covariates
  5. (3:35pm) Case study 1
    1. Model selection and basic abundance
  6. (4:00pm) Break
  7. (4:15pm) Case study 2
    1. Combined species detection functions, separate species abundance
  8. (5:00pm) End Session 1

Session 2: 9:00am - 1:00pm (MST) 13Nov24

  1. (9:00 am) Case study 3
    1. Low sample sizes
    2. Combined distance functions
  2. (9:30 am) Case study 4
    1. Blind spot under the aircraft
    2. Left truncation and the Beta distribution
    3. Binned distance data
    4. Model selection
    5. Bootstrapping
  3. (10:30 am) Break
  4. (10:45 am) Case study 5
    1. Obtaining locations by going off transect
    2. Combined distance functions over years
    3. Non-parametric smoothed distance functions
  5. (11:45 am) Break
  6. (12:00 am) Question and answer
  7. (1:00 pm) End Day 2

Software

Example datasets, scripts, and other materials will be distributed via download. The workshop will use the following free software:

Software installation instructions will be provided ahead of time.

Instructors

The instructors have conducted and consulted on distance-sampling studies of diverse taxa across the globe, including surveys from the ground, air, and sea. This workshop is a new distillation of beginner content, based on what we’ve learned from past workshops hosted by The Wildlife Society, Society for Marine Mammalogy, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and University of Wyoming.

Trent McDonald, Ph.D., President and Chief Analyst, McDonald Data Sciences

Jason Carlisle, Ph.D., Quantitative Biologist, Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Embere Hall, Ph.D., Science Unit Supervisor, Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Costs

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is hosting and sponsoring this iteration of Beginner Distance Sampling. Attendance by Wyoming Game and Fish personnel is free. To defray direct costs, and to keep things simple, we are charging others $10 whether they attend one or both sessions (i.e., one session is $10; both sessions are $10).

Location

  • In Person: Both sessions of the workshop will take place at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s office in Laramie, Wyoming (1212 Adams Street, Laramie Wy, 82070).
  • Virtual: Zoom meeting link supplied after registration and payment (by non-WG&F personnel).

In-person Attendance

The conference room in Laramie can accommodate 50 people. During registration, you will be asked whether you wish to attend in-person of virtually. If we receive more than 50 requests for in-person attendance, we will give preference to Wyoming Game and Fish personnel and accommodate others on a first-registered-first-served basis.

Registration

Follow the links below to register for one or both sessions. Participants must register separately for each session because the virtual meeting links are different. Following registration and payment (by non-WG&F employees), participants will receive confirmation emails containing links to the virtual sessions.

Register for Session 1

Register for Session 2

After registration, return here and pay registration fees by clicking the button below: