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Reflected stochastic differential equation models for constrained animal movement

June 1, 2017

Movement for many animal species is constrained in space by barriers such as rivers, shorelines, or impassable cliffs. We develop an approach for modeling animal movement constrained in space by considering a class of constrained stochastic processes, reflected stochastic differential equations. Our approach generalizes existing methods for modeling unconstrained animal movement. We present methods for simulation and inference based on augmenting the constrained movement path with a latent unconstrained path and illustrate this augmentation with a simulation example and an analysis of telemetry data from a Steller sea lion (Eumatopias jubatus) in southeast Alaska.

Publication Year 2017
Title Reflected stochastic differential equation models for constrained animal movement
DOI 10.1101/152017
Authors Ephraim M. Hanks, Devin S. Johnson, Mevin Hooten
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics
Index ID 70192634
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Coop Res Unit Seattle
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