Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2016

Abstract

© 2016 by the Ecological Society of America. Integral projection models ( IPM s) are a powerful and popular approach to modeling population dynamics. Generalized linear models form the statistical backbone of an IPM . These models are typically fi t using a frequentist approach. We suggest that hierarchical Bayesian statistical approaches offer important advantages over frequentist methods for building and interpreting IPM s, especially given the hierarchical nature of most demographic studies. Using a stochastic IPM for a desert cactus based on a 10- year study as a worked example, we highlight the application of a Bayesian approach for translating uncertainty in the vital rates (e.g., growth, survival, fertility) to uncertainty in population- level quantities derived from them (e.g., population growth rate). The best fi t demographic model, which would have been diffi cult to fi t under a frequentist framework, allowed for spatial and temporal variation in vital rates and correlated responses to temporal variation across vital rates. The corresponding posterior probability distribution for the stochastic population growth rate (λ S ) indicated that, if current vital rates continue, the study population will decline with nearly 100% probability. Interestingly, less supported candidate models that did not include spatial variance and vital rate correlations gave similar estimates of λ S . This occurred because the best fi tting model did a much better job of fi tting vital rates to which the population growth rate was weakly sensitive. The cactus case study highlights several advantages of Bayesian approaches to IPM modeling, including that they: (1) provide a natural fi t to demographic data, which are often collected in a hierarchical fashion (e.g., with random variance corresponding to temporal and spatial heterogeneity); (2) seamlessly combine multiple data sets or experiments; (3) readily incorporate covariance between vital rates; and, (4) easily integrate prior information, which may be particularly important for species of conservation concern where data availability may be limited. However, constructing a Bayesian IPM will often require the custom development of a statistical model tailored to the peculiarities of the sampling design and species considered; there may be circumstances under which simpler methods are adequate. Overall, Bayesian approaches provide a statistically sound way to get more information out of hard- won data, the goal of most demographic research endeavors.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Ecological Monographs

First Page

125

Last Page

144

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