Applied Hierarchical Modelling Workshop

When: October 27 - 31, 2025
Where: Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

Hierarchical models (HMs) are tremendously powerful in the study of species distribution and abundance, because they enable one to separately model the actual quantity of interest (typically presence/absence or abundance) from the measurement errors that contaminate all SDM data sets: false negatives and false positives. When these ubiquitous sources of errors are not adequately modeled, serious bias may result and jeopardize scientific conclusions and management decisions based on such data.

In this workshop from October 27th - 31st we present some of the most useful HMs for species distribution and abundance and for both static and dynamic (i.e., changing) populations. Specifically, we cover the following topics:

• Occupancy models for binary detection/nondetection data
• Multispecies occupancy models and abundance-mediated interaction models
• Binomial N-mixture models for replicated count data
• Multinomial N-mixture models for replicated capture-recapture data
• Distance sampling models for a variety of distance sampling protocols
• Integrating multiple data types and integrated models

In this intermediate-level workshop about 90% of the time is spent on lecturing and 10% on solving exercises. Some previous experience with BUGS software, or Bayesian statistics, is not assumed, but helpful, as is some previous exposure to occupancy and Nmix models. However, a good working knowledge of modern regression methods and of program R is required.

The course will be based on the two successful AHM books, "Applied hierarchical modeling in Ecology", by Kéry & Royle (Volume 1/2016, Volume 2/2021). Model fitting will be conducted by likelihood methods (i.e., through the R package unmarked) and by Bayesian MCMC methods through software JAGS, NIMBLE and the R packages ubms and spOccupancy.

This course will be taught by Joshua Twining, Ken Kellner, Andy Royle, and Marc Kéry. Please feel free to contact Joshua Twining joshua.twining@oregonstate.edu with CC to kellner7@msu.edu, aroyle@usgs.gov , marc.kery@vogelwarte.ch with any questions about the workshop