Computer-based spatial extension of forest fauna survey data: current issues, problems and directions

Computers are increasingly being employed to extend data from surveys of forest fauna across unsurveyed areas, using models relating species occurrence or population density to mapped environmental attributes.

This chapter examines current issues and problems associated with this methodology:

• avoiding and overcoming bias in survey data used to derive computer-based models

• selecting an appropriate modelling technique

• incorporating spatial analysis into models

• testing and refining predictions