Emphasizing model choice and model averaging, this book presents up-to-date Bayesian methods for analyzing complex ecological data. It provides a basic introduction to Bayesian methods that assumes no prior knowledge. The book includes detailed descriptions of methods that deal with covariate data and covers techniques at the forefront of research, such as model discrimination and model averaging. Leaders in the statistical ecology field, the authors apply the theory to a wide range of actual case studies and illustrate the methods using WinBUGS and R. The computer programs and full details of the data sets are available on the book's website.

Ruth King is a reader in statistics at the University of St. Andrews and a former EPSRC post-doctoral Research Fellow.

Byron J.T. Morgan is a professor of applied statistics at the University of Kent and co-director of the EPSRC National Centre for Statistical Ecology.

Olivier Gimenez is a research scientist in biostatistics at CNRS and a former Marie Curie research fellow.

Stephen P. Brooks is director of research at ATASS Ltd and a former professor of statistics at the University of Cambridge and EPSRC Advanced Fellow.

Novel Statistical Tools for Conserving and Managing PopulationsBy gathering information on key demographic parameters, scientists can often predict how populations will develop in the future and relate these parameters to external influences, such as global warming. Because of their ability to easily incorporate random effects, fit state-space mode

Introduction to Statistical Analysis of Ecological Data. Bayesian Techniques and Tools. Ecological Applications. Appendices. References. Index.