New sampling methods and statistical tools for biodiversity research: integrating animal movement ecology with population and community ecology
Research summary
This research proposal develops a multidisciplinary approach to study tropical forest biodiversity in two Brazilian ecosystems: Amazon and Atlantic forests. The overall objective is to develop new methods of field research and statistical modelling that will allow improved mapping and monitoring of tropical diversity. The main novelty of this project is in the use of new sampling technologies combined with the development of novel theoretical and statistical frameworks for obtaining robust inference at the levels of individuals, populations and communities.
Description
We will thus contribute to the integration of movement ecology to the fields of spatial population ecology and community ecology in general and in particular will produce new information on tropical biodiversity, including both basic and applied aspects.
Compared to the earlier activities in tropical forest biodiversity monitoring, this research plan shifts gears in three essential ways. First, we will take the full advantage of recent technical developments to significantly improve monitoring designs that will result in an unprecedented level of spatial and temporal replication. Second, we will merge the movement ecology paradigm with population and community based approaches to assess the responses of fauna to landscape gradients. Third, we will apply and further develop recent methods in Bayesian statistics to enable the processing of high-throughput biodiversity data in a reliable and robust manner.
More information
Research info
Research title
New sampling methods and statistical tools for biodiversity research: integrating animal movement ecology with population and community ecology
Research timeline
1.1.2014 - 1.1.2016
Keywords
Automated audio recordings Bayesian Statistics Biological Monitoring Functional Ecology Movement Ecology Tropical Ecology
Region
Latin America
Countries
Brazil, Finland
Institution
University of Helsinki
Department of BioSciences
Helsinki, Finland
Head of research
Otso Ovaskainen
Research team
Dr. Otso Ovaskainen, Dr. Milton Cezar Ribeiro, Dr. Mauro Galetti, Dr. Marco Aurélio Pizo, Dr. Jukka Síren, M.Sc Ulisses Camargo
Partners
Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho - UNESP, Brazil
Contact information
Ulisses Moliterno de Camargo
+358 404456249
ulisses.camargo@helsinki.fi
Record last updated
2.2.2015