Parameter inference for an individual based model of chytridiomycosis in frogs

Authored by Leah R. Johnson, Cheryl J. Briggs

Date Published: 2011-05-21

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.02.010

Sponsors: United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Individual based models (IBMs) and Agent based models (ABMs) have become widely used tools to understand complex biological systems. However, general methods of parameter inference for IBMs are not available. In this paper we show that it is possible to address this problem with a traditional likelihood-based approach, using an example of an IBM developed to describe the spread of chytridiomycosis in a population of frogs as a case study. We show that if the IBM satisfies certain criteria we can find the likelihood (or posterior) analytically, and use standard computational techniques, such as MCMC, for parameter inference. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
Agent based model Uncertainty individual based model growth Bayesian inference Chytridiomycosis Parameter inference Dynamical-systems Ecological theory State-space models Wild animal populations Pathogen batrachochytrium-dendrobatidis Emerging infectious-disease Amphibian pathogen Chytrid fungus