Occupancy Modeling: Using Detection Rates to Improve Wildlife Surveys

September 13-14, 2007
Smithsonian Conservation & Research Center
Front Royal, Virginia

Registration is now open.  Cost is $300 ($275 for students). Less  than 12 seats remain, so be sure to register soon. Details on  registration are available at www.vatws.org.

Who Should Attend: Researchers, students, and resource managers in  state, county and federal land units who have an interest and need to  collect presence/ absence or abundance data in the most  cost-effective manner.

The presence or absence of a species across a set of landscape units  is a fundamental concept used widely in ecology (e.g., as a  monitoring metric and for inferences about species range or  distribution, habitat modelling, resource selection probability  functions, metapopulation dynamics, biodiversity and species  co-occurrence). An important sampling issue, however, is that a  species may not always be detected when present at a landscape unit.  This will result in "false absences", causing parameter estimates to  be biased if unaccounted for, frequently leading to misleading  inferences, even with moderate levels of imperfect detection. This  workshop will cover many of the latest methods for modeling patterns  and dynamics of species occurrence in a landscape while accounting  for the imperfect detection of the species. Participants will be  introduced to available software through worked examples, and there  will be special emphasis on aspects of study design. While primarily  aimed at the beginner and intermediate level, more experienced  researchers will also benefit from attending. Workshop notes will be  provided, but the book 'Occupancy estimation and modeling: inferring  patterns and dynamics of species occurrence' (MacKenzie et al. 2006)  will be regularly referred to during the workshop and would be a  useful workshop supplement.

Instructors: The course will be taught by three experienced  instructors from USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Jim Nichols,  Jim Hines, and Larissa Bailey.
Dates: all day September 13-14, 2007 (welcome meeting and reception  on Sept. 12)
Location: Smithsonian Conservation & Research Center, Front Royal,  Virginia. The Conservation and Research Center started primarily as a  breeding center for endangered birds and mammals. Today, the  black-footed ferret, Eld's deer, and several species of Pacific  island birds are being bred to maintain genetic diversity and provide  reserves for highly endangered species. The current priority for  CRC's animal collection is veterinary and reproductive research. By  living in controlled environments, the birds and mammals-most of them  little-known and endangered-provide ideal subjects for intensive  study and the rapid acquisition of urgently needed information.  Findings from these studies provide critical information for the  management of captive populations and valuable insights for the  conservation and management of wild populations. Lodging: Lodging is available at CRC at $20 per night for Wednesday,  9/12 & Thursday, 9/13. Lodging consists of bunk beds in a dormitory  style facility at the CRC. Bed linens supplied. If you would like to  request lodging, please indicate that on your registration form, and  we will get back to you with a request for payment. Space will be  assigned in order of completed registration. Hotel rooms are  available nearby in Front Royal, but must be arranged by the  participant.

Hampton Inn Front Royal- (540) 635-1882
Front Royal Super 8 Motel- (540) 636-4888
Quality Inn Skyline Drive- (540) 635-3161
Questions? Contact Carola Haas, (540) 231-9269, cahaas@vt.edu
Online information at www.vatws.org
See you in Front Royal!