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Applied Statistical Methods and Tools

Completed
By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center October 24, 2017

This research theme addresses several issues important in deriving accurate and precise estimates of fatality at wind and solar power-generation facilities.

Research projects are focused on providing new and innovative statistical tools for applied ecology. Our research involves investigating and extending statistical and quantitative ecological techniques to cover unique environmental circumstances in a manner that is accessible to resource management agencies, and to apply these techniques to survey and monitoring programs and protocols at multiple scales.   

 

The goals are to:

  • Improve understanding of the services ecosystems provide to society
  • Develop tools, technologies, and capabilities to inform resource management decisions
  • Apply science to enhance strategies for management, conservation, and restoration

 

Click on the News tab to learn about our projects and publications.

 

Click here to return to FRESC Wind Energy and Wildlife Team page.

If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.

Wind energy development: Methods to assess bird and bat fatality rates post-construction Wind energy development: Methods to assess bird and bat fatality rates post-construction

Monitoring fatalities at wind energy facilities after they have been constructed can provide valuable information regarding impacts of wind power development on wildlife. The objective of this monitoring is to estimate abundance of a super-population of carcasses that entered the area within a designated period of time. By definition, the population is not closed and carcasses can enter...
Authors
Manuela Huso, Daniel Dalthorp, T. Miller, Dawn Bruns
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Estimating wind-turbine-caused bird and bat fatality when zero carcasses are observed Estimating wind-turbine-caused bird and bat fatality when zero carcasses are observed

Many wind-power facilities in the United States have established effective monitoring programs to determine turbine-caused fatality rates of birds and bats, but estimating the number of fatalities of rare species poses special difficulties. The loss of even small numbers of individuals may adversely affect fragile populations, but typically, few (if any) carcasses are observed during...
Authors
Manuela M.P. Huso, Daniel Dalthorp, David Dail, Lisa Madsen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Mortality estimation from carcass searches using the R-package carcass: a tutorial Mortality estimation from carcass searches using the R-package carcass: a tutorial

This article is a tutorial for the R-package carcass. It starts with a short overview of common methods used to estimate mortality based on carcass searches. Then, it guides step by step through a simple example. First, the proportion of animals that fall into the search area is estimated. Second, carcass persistence time is estimated based on experimental data. Third, searcher...
Authors
Franzi Korner-Nievergelt, Oliver Behr, Robert Brinkmann, Matthew Etterson, Manuela Huso, Daniel Dalthorp, Pius Korner-Nievergelt, Tobias Roth, Ivo Niermann
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Evidence of Absence software Evidence of Absence software

Evidence of Absence software (EoA) is a user-friendly application used for estimating bird and bat fatalities at wind farms and designing search protocols. The software is particularly useful in addressing whether the number of fatalities has exceeded a given threshold and what search parameters are needed to give assurance that thresholds were not exceeded. The software is applicable...
Authors
Daniel Dalthorp, Manuela Huso, David Dail, Jessica Kenyon
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Accounting for unsearched areas in estimating wind turbine-caused fatality Accounting for unsearched areas in estimating wind turbine-caused fatality

With wind energy production expanding rapidly, concerns about turbine-induced bird and bat fatality have grown and the demand for accurate estimation of fatality is increasing. Estimation typically involves counting carcasses observed below turbines and adjusting counts by estimated detection probabilities. Three primary sources of imperfect detection are 1) carcasses fall into...
Authors
Manuela M.P. Huso, Dan Dalthorp
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Associated software products

Evidence of Absence (EoA) Software and User's Guide Evidence of Absence (EoA) Software and User's Guide

Software to Estimate Bird and Bat Fatality at Wind Farms
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

News about projects and publications

This research theme addresses several issues important in deriving accurate and precise estimates of fatality at wind and solar power-generation facilities.

Research projects are focused on providing new and innovative statistical tools for applied ecology. Our research involves investigating and extending statistical and quantitative ecological techniques to cover unique environmental circumstances in a manner that is accessible to resource management agencies, and to apply these techniques to survey and monitoring programs and protocols at multiple scales.   

 

The goals are to:

  • Improve understanding of the services ecosystems provide to society
  • Develop tools, technologies, and capabilities to inform resource management decisions
  • Apply science to enhance strategies for management, conservation, and restoration

 

Click on the News tab to learn about our projects and publications.

 

Click here to return to FRESC Wind Energy and Wildlife Team page.

If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.

Wind energy development: Methods to assess bird and bat fatality rates post-construction Wind energy development: Methods to assess bird and bat fatality rates post-construction

Monitoring fatalities at wind energy facilities after they have been constructed can provide valuable information regarding impacts of wind power development on wildlife. The objective of this monitoring is to estimate abundance of a super-population of carcasses that entered the area within a designated period of time. By definition, the population is not closed and carcasses can enter...
Authors
Manuela Huso, Daniel Dalthorp, T. Miller, Dawn Bruns
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Estimating wind-turbine-caused bird and bat fatality when zero carcasses are observed Estimating wind-turbine-caused bird and bat fatality when zero carcasses are observed

Many wind-power facilities in the United States have established effective monitoring programs to determine turbine-caused fatality rates of birds and bats, but estimating the number of fatalities of rare species poses special difficulties. The loss of even small numbers of individuals may adversely affect fragile populations, but typically, few (if any) carcasses are observed during...
Authors
Manuela M.P. Huso, Daniel Dalthorp, David Dail, Lisa Madsen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Mortality estimation from carcass searches using the R-package carcass: a tutorial Mortality estimation from carcass searches using the R-package carcass: a tutorial

This article is a tutorial for the R-package carcass. It starts with a short overview of common methods used to estimate mortality based on carcass searches. Then, it guides step by step through a simple example. First, the proportion of animals that fall into the search area is estimated. Second, carcass persistence time is estimated based on experimental data. Third, searcher...
Authors
Franzi Korner-Nievergelt, Oliver Behr, Robert Brinkmann, Matthew Etterson, Manuela Huso, Daniel Dalthorp, Pius Korner-Nievergelt, Tobias Roth, Ivo Niermann
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Evidence of Absence software Evidence of Absence software

Evidence of Absence software (EoA) is a user-friendly application used for estimating bird and bat fatalities at wind farms and designing search protocols. The software is particularly useful in addressing whether the number of fatalities has exceeded a given threshold and what search parameters are needed to give assurance that thresholds were not exceeded. The software is applicable...
Authors
Daniel Dalthorp, Manuela Huso, David Dail, Jessica Kenyon
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Accounting for unsearched areas in estimating wind turbine-caused fatality Accounting for unsearched areas in estimating wind turbine-caused fatality

With wind energy production expanding rapidly, concerns about turbine-induced bird and bat fatality have grown and the demand for accurate estimation of fatality is increasing. Estimation typically involves counting carcasses observed below turbines and adjusting counts by estimated detection probabilities. Three primary sources of imperfect detection are 1) carcasses fall into...
Authors
Manuela M.P. Huso, Dan Dalthorp
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Associated software products

Evidence of Absence (EoA) Software and User's Guide Evidence of Absence (EoA) Software and User's Guide

Software to Estimate Bird and Bat Fatality at Wind Farms
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

News about projects and publications

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