Overview: For a given set of data and chossen hypothesis set, models are compared using Bayes factors to estimate a probability of model support and parameter estimates of the probabilities of activity during twilight, daytime and nighttime.
Data: A set of three frequencies that can be entered in the left side panel; these are independent observations of a species during these periods of the day.
Hypothesis Set: Traditional, General, Maximzing, and Selection. Details can be found in the last tab.
Plotting Tabs: Estimates of probabilities of actiivity from the most supported model.
RESULTS
Model Probabilities
Description
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Hypothesis Sets
There are three hypothesis sets used to estimate the diel phenotype of each analysis unit: Maximizing, Traditional, and General.
Each set is defined for a different objective and are specified by the combined probabilities of activity during twilight, daytime, and nightime.
Maximizing
Defines phenotypes based on which diel period is used the most (twilight, daytime, nightime), regardless of the other diel periods.
Species example: the Coyote (Canis latrans) is estimated to be active during twilight, daytime, and nightime at probabilities of 0.20, 0.30, and 0.50, respectively. Since the nighttime probability is used the most, this data would support the 'Nocturnal Maximization' phenotye hypothesis.
Traditional
Defines diel phenotypes based on a general interpretation of how the literature discusses animal activity.
Species example: the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is estimated to be active during twilight, daytime, and nightime at probabilities of 0.20, 0.80, and 0.00, respectively.
Under the 'Traditional' hypothesis set, the Diurnal phenotype hypothesis would be supported because of the high probabilty of activity during the daytime.
General
Defines phenotypes similar to 'traditional', but differentiates two diel modalities (e.g., Diurnal-Nocturnal) from three diel modalities (i.e., Cathemeral General).
Species example: the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is estimated to be active during twilight, daytime, and nightime at probabilities of 0.20, 0.80, and 0.00, respectively.
Under the 'General' hypothesis set, the Diurnal-Crepuscular phenotype hypothesis would be supported because of the high probabilty of activity during the daytime and twilight.
Selection
Defines diel phenotypes based on the disproportional activity in a diel period, given the amount of time available to the animal in the diel period. The below figure depicts when the proportional amount of availble time
in twilight, day, and night are 0.04, 0.48, and 0.48, respectively.
Species example: the White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is estimated to be active during twilight, daytime, and nightime at probabilities of 0.10, 0.45, and 0.45, respectively.
Under the 'Selection' hypothesis set and with a respective amount of avilable time in each period of 0.04, 0.48, and 0.48 the Twilight Selection hypothesis would be supported because the proportional use of twilight is greater than
the amount available, while the other periods are used less thn available.
Diel.Niche Shinyapp