Online workshop: analysis of camera trap data with distance sampling, May 2024

Camera traps are widely used for studying terrestrial animal populations. Several methods exist for analysis of camera trap data to estimate animal abundance. Use of distance sampling theory for analysis of camera trap data does not require identification of individual animals to estimate abundance, making it applicable to a much larger set of species. This workshop, through lectures and computer exercises, provides training in survey design and the analysis of camera trap data to produce abundance estimates.

Update: Registration now open - follow this link to register.

Overview

The training workshop is intended to teach the fundamental principles of design and analysis of animal abundance using data derived from camera traps. In association with the principles, computer exercises will guide participants through survey design, fitting detection functions to detections, performing model selection, estimating temporal availability of animals and computing measures of uncertainty. The workshop will build upon a foundation of “conventional” distance sampling, and so workshop participants are expected to understand the basic concepts behind distance sampling before coming to the workshop (see “Prerequisites” below).

Instructors

Timing

27th - 31st May 2024, 11:00-14:00 UK time (BST, British Summer Time). To find the time in your location, follow this link to a universal time converter.

In order to get the most out of the teaching, additional time will be required for self-study both in the lead-up to the workshop (advance preparation) and during the workshop week. Activities during the workshop week include take-home exercises. We recommend putting aside around an additional 2-3 hours per day during the workshop week for self-study, including undertaking these exercises.

Please note that the daily time of this workshop is designed to suit participants from Europe, Africa and Asia, and get as close we can to working for participants in Oceania given that one of our instructors is in Eastern Canada. As our instructor Eric demonstrates, it is also manageable for those from Eastern America. If you are keen on attending one of our workshops but the workshop time is not compatible with you, please email Len Thomas. If there is sufficient interest we may run a workshop later in the year starting later in the (UK) day.

Enrollment limit

Registration is limited to 19 participants, to allow us to run the workshop with good participant involvement.

Format and Delivery method

The workshop will be a mix of live online interactive sessions, delivered via videoconference software (Microsoft Teams) and computer exercises. There will be four sessions, across five days, each lasting three hours. In addition, there will be practical exercises to be undertaken outside of the scheduled sessions, with some to be completed in advance of the workshop starting. The practicals will be carried out using either Distance for Windows or the Distance package within the R statistical software.

Content

Workshop content is given below; exact timing of topics may be changed.

  • Day 1. Provides the foundation of distance sampling. The first computer exercise focuses upon analysis of point transect data (from a songbird survey) to initiate participants in fitting detection functions, assessing model fit and performing model selection. The second half of the session describes fundamentals of applying distance sampling analyses to camera trap data. The computer exercise associated with this topic (and subsequent topics) uses data on Maxwell’s duikers from the 2018 paper:
    • Howe, E. J., Buckland, S. T., Després-Einspenner, M.-L., & Kühl, H. S. (2018). Distance sampling with camera traps. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 8:1558–1565. DOI
  • Day 2. This day (as with days 3 and 5) will begin with a question and answer session to allow participants to raise any points that require further clarification related to the lectures or computer exercises on Day 1. The lecture/exercise topic of the day deals with design of camera trap surveys. The second half of this day is devoted to a discussion of the workflow associated with analysis of camera trap data, beginning with manipulation of images from SD camera cards to files ready for import into Distance for Windows.
  • Day 3. After the question and answer session, the first lecture/exercise of the day is devoted to the special problem of model selection that arises with camera trap data, possibly caused by over-dispersion in the distribution of detection distances. Methods for refining model selection in this situation is described and applied to the duiker analysis from Day 1. The second topic of the day is assessing temporal availability of the study animal and ways to incorporate the estimate of temporal availability (and the uncertainty in that estimate) in the estimation of animal abundance.
  • Day 4. There is no formal meeting on this day. Instead, participants will have time to complete any outstanding practical exercises and formulate questions to pose on the final day of the workshop.
  • Day 5. Following an open question and answer session, lecturers and participants will discuss animal reaction to cameras; how to detect and mitigate. Next will be two periods to discuss special topics. Those are topics nominated by participants for additional discussion, lead by the instructors. Following a break, the workshop concludes with additiona time to use as instructors determine.

Prerequisites

You should already understand distance sampling concepts, for example by having taken a face-to-face introductory workshop or an online workshop (either interactive or via our free pre-recorded lectures). You should be familiar with the use of either the software Distance for Windows or the Distance package within R for distance sampling analysis.

Registration and Payment

The Registration Fee is 335.00 GBP

Registration and payment is via the online store at the University of St Andrews - please follow this link and click on the Book Event button. The registration deadline is 15th May 2024.

Once you have registered, we will contact you to collect some follow-up information.

All participants are asked to abide by our workshop code of conduct. –>

Widening participation scholarship

We are offering one free place on the workshop to encouraging participation by scientists from countries with fewer resources, and from groups traditionally under-represented in wildlife science. Please see here for more information. The closing date for scholarship applications is 12th April.

Enquiries

For more information about the workshop or registration process please contact Len Thomas, email: len.thomas@st-andrews.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

Information about the University of St Andrews Online Payment Services is available here.