Model & Data Fusion

Data fusion and modeling effectively helps industries and individuals determine the extent of the effects of actions to a resource. Our wealth of experience assessing the impact of land use changes to vegetation and wildlife includes estimating and predicting fatality rates with collision risk models and rare event modeling for Habitat Conservation Plans and Eagle Conservation Plans. Whether the challenge is related to wind energy development, solar energy development, extractive energy, or other land use changes, our data team has the necessary tools to assist with study design through analysis and report writing.

Wildlife Population Size

  • Population size is arguably one of the most important parameters in wildlife studies. With expertise and research spanning from the 1980s to present, WEST statisticians are at the forefront of population size estimation. Utilizing distance analysis, capture-recapture modeling, and plot-based density estimation, WEST uses modern methods to estimate wildlife population sizes. 

Wildlife Habitat Use – Resource Selection Modeling

  • Animals follow decision patterns that lead to migration corridors, wintering and summering grounds, and pathways to breeding grounds. Understanding the environmental variables that can be used to predict these decision patterns is crucial to identifying areas of conservation concern, assisting individuals and industries with environmental compliance, and better understanding behavior patterns of certain species. WEST has a wealth of experience assessing habitat use for a wide variety of animals, including big game species, polar bears, California condors, lesser prairie-chickens, and many others.

Publications

Survival rates and causes of mortality of Amur tigers on and near the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik
J. M. Goodrich, L. L. Kerley, E. N. Smirnov, D. G. Miquelle, Lyman L. McDonald, H. B. Quigley, M. G. Hornocker, and Trent L. McDonald
2008

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