Spatial Assignments Using Intrinsic Markers to Infer Migratory Patterns

Abstract

In ecology, it is extremely useful to model migratory connections as it can be builtupon to produce further research into organisms and the environment. However, itcan be difficult due to the high cost of tracking animals using extrinsic factors suchas tagging or electronic chips and the possibility of influencing organisms behaviorafterwards. I use a Bayesian Gaussian Process method developed in (Rundel et al.2013) to model migratory bird connectivity patterns using intrinsic markers, allelecounts, on a spatial scope to predict breeding grounds of a genetic sample.