Application of the simple saddlepoint approximation to estimate probability distributions in wildlife research |
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| Authors: | Stephen J Demaso Fidel Hernández Leonard A Brennan Ralph L Bingham |
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| Institution: | 1. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 218, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA;2. Department of Mathematics, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 172, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA
Deceased. |
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| Abstract: | The simple saddlepoint approximation (SSA) uses the mean, variance, and skewness (a measure of the asymmetry of the distribution) of a data set to algebraically approximate the probability density function of a selected variable. We compared habitat-suitability bounds estimated with SSAs and continuous selection functions. Habitat-suitability bounds for bobwhite nesting based on the SSA method were biologically comparable to the results of the method based on continuous selection functions. The SSA approach allows habitat-suitability bounds to be estimated using algebra and can be calculated in computer spreadsheets. © 2011 The Wildlife Society. |
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| Keywords: | Colinus virginianus habitat suitability northern bobwhite probability distribution simple saddlepoint approximation skewness variance |
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