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Joint Species Distribution Modelling

Joint Species Distribution Modelling

Joint Species Distribution Modelling

With Applications in R
Otso Ovaskainen, University of Helsinki
Nerea Abrego, University of Helsinki
July 2020
Paperback
9781108716789

    Joint species distribution modelling (JSDM) is a fast-developing field and promises to revolutionise how data on ecological communities are analysed and interpreted. Written for both readers with a limited statistical background, and those with statistical expertise, this book provides a comprehensive account of JSDM. It enables readers to integrate data on species abundances, environmental covariates, species traits, phylogenetic relationships, and the spatio-temporal context in which the data have been acquired. Step-by-step coverage of the full technical detail of statistical methods is provided, as well as advice on interpreting results of statistical analyses in the broader context of modern community ecology theory. With the advantage of numerous example R-scripts, this is an ideal guide to help graduate students and researchers learn how to conduct and interpret statistical analyses in practice with the R-package Hmsc, providing a fast starting point for applying joint species distribution modelling to their own data.


    • Presents a conceptual, theoretical and historical background to community ecology, enabling readers to link statistical methods and results of statistical analyses to community ecology theory
    • Develops the joint species distribution model of Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities step-by-step and in great detail, encouraging readers with a limited statistical background to connect mathematical equations with their intuitive interpretations, and providing readers with statistical expertise with full technical details
    • Includes an extensive set of examples and illustrations of joint species distribution modelling, implemented through the R-package HMSC-R, allowing readers to connect the theoretical parts of the book to practical implementations, and to modify the example R-scripts to analyse their own data

    Reviews & endorsements

    'The authors provide a perfect blend of ecological and statistical insight into joint species distribution modeling. This book is an excellent resource for any quantitative ecologist or ecological statistician.' Erin M. Schliep, The Quarterly Review of Biology

    'This book is an excellent resource for any quantitative ecologist or ecological statistician interested in conducting science-driven analyses with statistical rigor to address pressing questions in community ecology.' Erin M. Schliep, The Quarterly Review of Biology

    See more reviews

    Product details

    July 2020
    Paperback
    9781108716789
    388 pages
    228 × 153 × 19 mm
    0.65kg
    117 b/w illus. 17 colour illus.
    Temporarily unavailable - available from August 2023

    Table of Contents

    • Part I. Introduction to Community Ecology: Theory and Methods:
    • 1. Historical development of community ecology
    • 2. Typical data collected by community ecologists
    • 3. Typical statistical methods applied by community ecologists
    • 4. An overview of the structure and use of HMSC
    • Part II. Building a Joint Species Distribution Model Step by Step:
    • 5. Single-species distribution modelling
    • 6. Joint species distribution modelling: variation in species niches
    • 7. Joint species distribution modelling: biotic interactions
    • 8. Bayesian inference in HMSC
    • 9. Evaluating model fit and selecting among multiple models
    • Part III. Applications and Perspectives:
    • 10. Linking HMSC back to community assembly processes
    • 11. Illustration of HMSC analyses: case study of Finnish birds
    • 12. Conclusions and future directions
    • Epilogue
    • Index
    • References.
      Authors
    • Otso Ovaskainen , University of Helsinki

      Otso Ovaskainen is Professor of Mathematical Ecology at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He has published 170 papers in mathematical, statistical and empirical ecology, with a particular focus on metapopulation ecology, movement ecology, population genetics, molecular species identification and community ecology.

    • Nerea Abrego , University of Helsinki

      Nerea Abrego is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki. After obtaining her Ph.D. in fungal ecology, she expanded her research to genera community ecology. She has published thirty papers, many of which relate to recent developments in joint species distribution modelling.