Synthesising Prior Information for Ecological Research and Management

Grant number: DP0985600 | Funding period: 2009 - 2012

Completed

Abstract

While using existing information to design studies and compare results, ecologists rarely use existing information in their analyses. We will combine the results of previous ecological studies to summarise the existing information. We will test how well the traits of plants and animals can be predicted from previous research, and the benefit of this existing information for environmental management. By taking advantage of the wealth of previous ecological research, our project can save time and money for ecological research by scientists and environmental management by federal and state agencies. This will fundamentally change the way that ecology is conducted.

Related publications (7)

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Approaches to statistical inference

Michael A McCarthy

2015-01-01

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The neglected tool in the Bayesian ecologist's shed: A case study testing informative priors' effect on model accuracy

WK Morris, PA Vesk, MA Mccarthy, S Bunyavejchewin, PJ Baker

2015-01-01

Despite benefits for precision, ecologists rarely use informative priors. One reason that ecologists may prefer vague priors is th..

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Profiting from pilot studies: Analysing mortality using Bayesian models with informative priors

WK Morris, PA Vesk, MA McCarthy

2013-02-01

Pilot studies are often used to help design ecological studies. Ideally the pilot data are incorporated into the full-scale study ..

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A general model of detectability using species traits

GE Garrard, MA Mccarthy, NSG Williams, SA Bekessy, BA Wintle

2013-01-01

Imperfect detectability is a critical source of variation that limits ecological progress and frustrates effective conservation ma..

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The influence of abundance on detectability

MA Mccarthy, JL Moore, WK Morris, KM Parris, GE Garrard, PA Vesk, L Rumpff, KM Giljohann, J Camac, S Bau, T Friend, B Harrison, B Yue

2013-01-01

Plant and animal survey detection rates are important for ecological surveys, environmental impact assessment, invasive species mo..

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A predictive model of avian natal dispersal distance provides prior information for investigating response to landscape change

GE Garrard, MA McCarthy, PA Vesk, JQ Radford, AF Bennett

2012-01-01

1. Informative Bayesian priors can improve the precision of estimates in ecological studies or estimate parameters for which littl..

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Evidence that a highway reduces apparent survival rates of squirrel gliders

SC McCall, MA McCarthy, R van der Ree, MJ Harper, S Cesarini, K Soanes

2010-01-01

Roads and traffic are prominent components of most landscapes throughout the world, and their negative effects on the natural envi..

University of Melbourne Researchers