Modeling a Poisson forest in variable elevations: a nonparametric Bayesian approach

Biometrics. 1999 Sep;55(3):738-45. doi: 10.1111/j.0006-341x.1999.00738.x.

Abstract

A nonparametric Bayesian formulation is given to the problem of modeling nonhomogeneous spatial point patterns influenced by concomitant variables. Only incomplete information on the concomitant variables is assumed, consisting of a relatively small number of point measurements. Residual variation, caused by other unmeasured influential factors, is modeled in terms of a spatially varying baseline intensity function. A Markov chain Monte Carlo scheme is proposed for the simultaneous nonparametric estimation of each unknown function in the model. The suggested method is illustrated by reanalysing a data set in Rathbun (1996, Biometrics 52, 226-242), and the estimated models are compared with those obtained by Rathbun.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Altitude
  • Bayes Theorem*
  • Biometry*
  • Ecosystem
  • Markov Chains
  • Models, Statistical
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Trees