In a recent paper, Hutto (2016a) challenges the need to account for detectability when interpreting data from point counts. A number of issues with model-based approaches to deal with detectability are presented, and an alternative suggested: surveying an area around each point over which detectability is assumed certain. The article contains a number of false claims and errors of logic, and we address these here. We provide suggestions about appropriate uses of distance sampling and occupancy modeling, arising from an intersection of design- and model-based inference.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Title | Model-based approaches to deal with detectability: a comment on Hutto (2016) |
| DOI | 10.1002/eap.1553 |
| Authors | Tiago A. Marques, Len Thomas, Marc Kéry, Steve T. Buckland, David L. Borchers, Eric Rexstad, Rachel M. Fewster, Darryl I. MacKenzie, Andy Royle, Gurutzeta Guillera-Arroita, Colleen M. Handel, David C. Pavlacky, Richard J. Camp |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Ecological Applications |
| Index ID | 70189502 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |