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Bayesian Model Averaging and Variable Selection in Multivariate Ecological Models

dc.contributor.authorLipkovich, Ilya A.en
dc.contributor.committeechairSmith, Eric P.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairYe, Keyingen
dc.contributor.committeememberFoutz, Roberten
dc.contributor.committeememberBirch, Jeffrey B.en
dc.contributor.committeememberTerrell, George R.en
dc.contributor.departmentStatisticsen
dc.date.accessioned2011-08-22T18:35:37Zen
dc.date.adate2002-04-22en
dc.date.available2011-08-22T18:35:37Zen
dc.date.issued2002-04-09en
dc.date.rdate2003-04-22en
dc.date.sdate2002-04-18en
dc.description.abstractBayesian Model Averaging (BMA) is a new area in modern applied statistics that provides data analysts with an efficient tool for discovering promising models and obtaining esti-mates of their posterior probabilities via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). These probabilities can be further used as weights for model averaged predictions and estimates of the parameters of interest. As a result, variance components due to model selection are estimated and accounted for, contrary to the practice of conventional data analysis (such as, for example, stepwise model selection). In addition, variable activation probabilities can be obtained for each variable of interest. This dissertation is aimed at connecting BMA and various ramifications of the multivari-ate technique called Reduced-Rank Regression (RRR). In particular, we are concerned with Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) in ecological applications where the data are represented by a site by species abundance matrix with site-specific covariates. Our goal is to incorporate the multivariate techniques, such as Redundancy Analysis and Ca-nonical Correspondence Analysis into the general machinery of BMA, taking into account such complicating phenomena as outliers and clustering of observations within a single data-analysis strategy. Traditional implementations of model averaging are concerned with selection of variables. We extend the methodology of BMA to selection of subgroups of observations and im-plement several approaches to cluster and outlier analysis in the context of the multivari-ate regression model. The proposed algorithm of cluster analysis can accommodate re-strictions on the resulting partition of observations when some of them form sub-clusters that have to be preserved when larger clusters are formed.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.otheretd-04182002-020608en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04182002-020608en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/11045en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartBMADisserFinal.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectCanonical Correspondence Analysisen
dc.subjectOutlier Analysisen
dc.subjectBayesian Model Averagingen
dc.subjectCluster Analysisen
dc.titleBayesian Model Averaging and Variable Selection in Multivariate Ecological Modelsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineStatisticsen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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