Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Tennessee
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The estimation of environmental DNA (eDNA) detection probabilities and population persistence probabilitites often relies on the observed presence of the organism in question. Yet it is crucial to consider the possibility that that a species and its eDNA are present but not detected during a survey. Occupancy modeling allows for the estimation of several parameters in a likelihood framework while allowing for imperfect detectability. The objectvies of this project are to provide statistical support to the USFWS Invasive Speceies and Ecological Services programs and develop occupancy models for several invasive species and imperiled species of concern.