A1187
Title: Integrated species distribution models: A single-index approach
Authors: Quan Vu - Australian National University (Australia) [presenting]
Abstract: In ecology and fisheries, species abundance data are often collected using a number of surveys that have different characteristics. Spatio-temporal statistical models can be used to integrate information from these datasets to improve both interpretability and prediction of the abundance rather than modeling the surveys independently. The single-index integrated species distribution model is introduced, based on a single index representing the latent spatial distribution of the species abundance and survey-specific link functions representing the different catchability properties of each survey. The use of the model is demonstrated through an analysis of scallop data collected from two surveys: a bottom trawl survey, which covers a wide spatial domain but is less efficient, and a hydraulic dredge survey, which is more efficient and spatially targeted. Results show that the model offers meaningful interpretations of covariate effects, spatial distribution, and survey catchability differences and achieves superior predictive performance compared to contemporary species distribution models.
