An integrated path for spatial capture-recapture and animal movement modeling.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Population Ecology
• Movement Ecology

Background:

• Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) and animal movement modeling are crucial tools for ecologists and conservation biologists.
• Historically, SCR focused on population-level parameters (abundance, density), while movement modeling focused on individual behavior (resource selection, migration).
• A significant gap exists in linking individual movement to population dynamics, hindering comprehensive ecological understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in SCR and animal movement modeling.
• To establish a common framework for integrating individual-level movement data with population-level SCR models.
• To highlight the potential benefits of this integration for ecological inference, conservation, and management.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent advancements in spatial capture-recapture (SCR) and animal movement modeling.
• Establishment of a common notation for integrating Lagrangian (individual) movement with Eulerian (population) processes.
• Development of a general conceptual framework for combined movement and SCR modeling.

Main Results:

• Integration of SCR and movement modeling offers a powerful approach to scale from individual behavior to population-level patterns.
• Accounting for complex movement processes can reduce bias in population parameter estimation.
• This integrated approach advances inferences at the intersection of population, movement, and landscape ecology.

Conclusions:

• The integration of SCR and animal movement modeling holds immense potential for ecological research and conservation.
• This synergy allows for more robust inferences critical for species management and understanding population dynamics.
• Future research should focus on addressing challenges and pitfalls in developing and applying integrated models.