Particle algorithms for animal movement modelling in receiver arrays

• Published in: Methods in ecology and evolution Vol. 16; no. 8; pp. 1808 - 1819
• Main Authors: Lavender, Edward, Scheidegger, Andreas, Albert, Carlo, Biber, Stanisław W., Illian, Janine, Thorburn, James, Smout, Sophie, Moor, Helen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.08.2025; Wiley
• Subjects: Acoustic telemetry; Algorithms; Animal models; animal tracking; Arrays; Bayesian analysis; Habitat preferences; Heuristic methods; Home range; Mathematical models; Modelling; movement ecology; passive acoustic telemetry; patter; Problem solving; Smoothing; Sound filters; state‐space model; Telemetry; Tracking; utilisation distribution
• ISSN: 2041-210X; 2041-210X
• DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.70028

Particle filters and smoothers are sequential Monte Carlo algorithms used to fit non‐linear, non‐Gaussian state‐space models. These algorithms are well placed to fit process‐oriented models to animal‐tracking data, especially in receiver arrays, but to date they have received limited attention in the ecological literature. We introduce a Bayesian filtering–smoothing algorithm that reconstructs individual movements and patterns of space use from animal‐tracking data, with a focus on passive acoustic telemetry systems. Within a sound probabilistic framework, the methodology integrates the movement process and the observation processes of disparate datasets, while correctly representing uncertainty. In a simulation‐based analysis, we compare the performance of our algorithm to the prevailing heuristic methods used to study movements and space use in passive acoustic telemetry systems and analyse algorithm sensitivity. We find the particle smoothing methodology outperforms heuristic methods across the board. Particle‐based maps represent simulated movements more accurately, even in dense receiver arrays, and are better suited to analyses of home ranges, residency and habitat preferences. This study sets a new state‐of‐the‐art for movement modelling in receiver arrays. Particle algorithms provide a robust, flexible and intuitive modelling framework with potential applications in many ecological settings.