An efficient extension of N-mixture models for multi-species abundance estimation.

ABSTRACT: In this study we propose an extension of the N-mixture family of models that targets an improvement of the statistical properties of rare species abundance estimators when sample sizes are low, yet typical for tropical studies. The proposed method harnesses information from other species in an ecological community to correct each species' estimator. We provide guidance to determine the sample size required to estimate accurately the abundance of rare tropical species when attempting to estimate the abundance of single species.We evaluate the proposed methods using an assumption of 50 m radius plots and perform simulations comprising a broad range of sample sizes, true abundances and detectability values and a complex data generating process. The extension of the N-mixture model is achieved

SUBMITTER: Gomez JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5992910 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature