CaribouDemographyBasicApp

Purpose

The purpose of this application is to allow users to explore projections of the population dynamics of boreal caribou. Projections include uncertainty about the current state of boreal caribou populations, and how those populations will change in the future. Caribou demographic model parameters, and uncertainty about those parameter values, are estimated from available data on the survival of collared caribou and the numbers of calves observed per cow in aerial surveys using a modified version of the [bboutools](https://poissonconsulting.github.io/bboutools/) R package. These parameter estimates are used to project the likely changes in the population over time if there are no future changes in average survival and recruitment. We project a mean value for the population over time and a number of plausible trajectories created by randomly selecting parameter values from the estimated uncertainty distributions. Variation among plausible trajectories indicates uncertainty in projections informed only by local available survey data. In this version of the application, uncertainty can be reduced by acquiring more data. We are also working on methods for reducing uncertainty using knowledge of the state of a landscape and outcomes for caribou populations across the country, and plan to incorporate these methods into future versions of the app.

The app allows users to add and analyze data for their populations of interest. Users can then explore how changing survival and recruitment rates would change expected outcomes for caribou.

Authors

This app was created by Sarah Endicott and Josie Hughes (Wildlife and Landscape Science Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada), and Danielle Cantin (Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada).

Acknowlegments

Guy Larocque (Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada) and Rebecca Viejou (affiliation?) participated in conceptualizing the app and compiling available data.

Installation

To run the app you will need to install R and we recommend RStudio as well. Follow the instructions here to install both.

In addition you will need to install the Rtools application. You can do this by selecting the version corresponding to your version of R here. Or you can run the following code in the R console which should prompt Rtools to be installed.

install.packages("pkgbuild")
pkgbuild::check_build_tools()

Wait for the tool to download and install, following in instructions that pop-up. When installation is complete close R or RStudio and open it again in a fresh session for the changes to take effect.

You can install the CaribouDemographyBasicApp R package by running the following in the R console:

install.packages("remotes")
remotes::install_github("LandSciTech/CaribouDemographyBasicApp")

Launching the Shiny app

To launch the app in your default browser run the following lines:

library(CaribouDemographyBasicApp)
run_caribou_demog_app()

Updating the R package and app

If you want to see the latest changes made to the app you will need to re-install the package from GitHub. Run the code below in the R console:

remotes::install_github("LandSciTech/CaribouDemographyBasicApp", upgrade = FALSE)