Robert Brian OHara

About

My career has been dedicated to discovering whether I am a biologist or a statistician - I intend to retire once I come to a definite answer. Most of my work has been on ecology and evolution, using statistical methods to put data and models together to try to learnmore about the real world.

My main interest at the moment is the development of methods to model the distributions and dynamics of species an communities, where we have a variety of data sources that need to be respected, and models of the unobserved true distributions and dynamics from which we want to infer what drives the distributions of species, and oredict how this will change in the near future.

Research

My work is at the interface of ecology and statistics. At the momen tmy main focus is on developing models for the large-scale distribution of species. The problems here revolve around correctly modelling the sampling processes, and effectively modelling the distributions of species, and their dynamics, in both space and time. As well as thinking about single species, we also have to consider multiple species, and how they may respond in similar ways to the environment and interact with each other.

I am currently the main supervisor for a small group:

Kwaku Peprah Adjei: Kwaku is a PhD student working on citizen science data in biodiversity. He has been focussing on issues with mis-classification, as well as working with Jorge Parada to develop a framework to think about and handle sampling issues in citizen scoence data

Philip Stanley Mostert: Philip is a PhD student developing the statistical tools to help ecologists model their distributions. He has developed the PointedSDMs package, and is working to test and improve it, integrating the models developed by Kwaku and Jorge and then expanding teh scope of models that can be fitted with it.

Bert van der Veen: Bert is a post doc who is continuing his PhD work on model-based ordination methods, to effectively model large numbers f species, and how they respond to the environment. He has contributed to the development of the gllvm package.

Ron Tuganov: Ron is working on the GreenPlan project, to develop models that can predict the effects of planned land use changes on biodiversity, incorporating effects on dispersal.

GreenPlan

GreenPlan is developing an innovative analytical framework to quantify functional connectivity for a wide range of species, and a portfolio of decision-making support tools to aid sustainable land planning.

Transforming Citizen Science for Biodiversity

A multi-disciplinary appraoch has been taken to understanding and using citizen science data to better inform ecologists and biodiversity managers.

Publications

2023

Dambly, Lea I.; Isaac, Nick J. B.; Jones, Kate E.; Boughey, Katherine L.; O'Hara, Robert Brian. (2023) Integrated species distribution models fitted in INLA are sensitive to mesh parameterisation. Ecography
Academic article
Koch, Wouter; Hogeweg, Laurens; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland; O'Hara, Robert Brian; Finstad, Anders Gravbrøt. (2023) Recognizability bias in citizen science photographs. Royal Society Open Science
Academic article

2022

van der Veen, Bert; Hui, Francis K. C.; Hovstad, Knut Anders; OHara, Robert Brian. (2022) Concurrent ordination: Simultaneous unconstrained and constrained latent variable modelling. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Simmonds, Emily Grace; Adjei, Kwaku Peprah; Andersen, Christoffer Wold; Aspheim, Janne Cathrin Hetle; Battistin, Claudia; Bulso, Nicola. (2022) Insights into the quantification and reporting of model-related uncertainty across different disciplines. iScience
Academic article

2021

Muff, Stefanie; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland; OHara, Robert Brian; Nater, Chloe Rebecca. (2021) Rewriting results sections in the language of evidence. Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Academic literature review
Adde, Antoine; Casabona i Amat, Clara; Mazerolle, Marc J.; Darveau, Marcel; Cumming, Steven G.; OHara, Robert Brian. (2021) Integrated modeling of waterfowl distribution in western Canada using aerial survey and citizen science (eBird) data. Ecosphere
Academic article
van der Veen, Bert; Hui, Francis K. C.; Hovstad, Knut Anders; Solbu, Erik Blystad; OHara, Robert Brian. (2021) Model-based ordination for species with unequal niche widths. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Academic article

2020

Simmonds, Emily Grace; Jarvis, Susan G.; Henrys, Peter A.; Isaac, Nick J.B.; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Is more data always better? A simulation study of benefits and limitations of integrated distribution models. Ecography
Academic article
Sonne, Jesper; Vizentin-Bugoni, Jeferson; Maruyama, Pietro K.; Araujo, Andréa C.; Chávez-González, Edgar; Coelho, Aline G.. (2020) Ecological mechanisms explaining interactions within plant-hummingbird networks: morphological matching increases towards lower latitudes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
Contina, Andrea; Yanco, Scott; Pierce, Allison; DePrenger-Levin, Michelle; Wunder, Michael; Neophytou, Andreas. (2020) Comment on “A global-scale ecological niche model to predict SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection rate”, author Coro. Ecological Modelling
Academic article
Carlson, Colin; Chipperfield, Joseph; Benito, Blas; Telford, Richard; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Species distribution models are inappropriate for COVID-19. Nature Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Freckleton, Robert; Ellison, Aaron; Liow, Lee Hsiang; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Ten years of Methods in Ecology and Evolution. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Editorial
Perrin, Sam Wenaas; Englund, Göran; Blumentrath, Stefan; OHara, Robert Brian; Amundsen, Per-Arne; Finstad, Anders Gravbrøt. (2020) Integrating dispersal along freshwater ecosystems into species distribution models. Diversity and Distributions: A journal of biological invasions and biodiversity
Academic article
Carlson, Colin; Chipperfield, Joseph; Benito, Blas; Telford, Richard; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Don’t gamble the COVID-19 response on ecological hypotheses. Nature Ecology and Evolution
Academic article

2019

Norberg, Anna; Abrego, Nerea; Blanchet, F. Guillaume; Adler, Frederick R.; Anderson, Barbara J.; Anttila, Jani. (2019) A comprehensive evaluation of predictive performance of 33 species distribution models at species and community levels. Ecological Monographs
Academic article
Isaac, Nick J.B.; Jarzyna, Marta A.; Keil, Petr; Dambly, Lea I.; Boersch-Supan, Philipp H.; Browning, Ella. (2019) Data integration for large-scale models of species distributions. Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Academic literature review
Bowler, Diana Elizabeth; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland; Bischof, Richard; OHara, Robert Brian; Yu, Thin Thin; Oo, Tun. (2019) Integrating data from different survey types for population monitoring of an endangered species: the case of the Eld’s deer. Scientific Reports
Academic article
Wieser, Andreas; Reuss, Friederike; Niamir, Aidin; Müller, Ruth; OHara, Robert Brian; Pfenninger, Markus. (2019) Modelling seasonal dynamics, population stability, and pest control in Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasites & Vectors
Academic article
Araújo, Miguel B.; Anderson, Robert P.; Barbosa, A. Márcia; Beale, Colin M.; Dormann, Carsten F.; Early, Regan. (2019) Standards for distribution models in biodiversity assessments. Science Advances
Academic article

2018

Björk, Johannes R.; Hui, Francis K.C.; OHara, Robert Brian; Montoya, Jose M.. (2018) Uncovering the drivers of host-associated microbiota with joint species distribution modelling. Molecular Ecology
Academic article
OHara, Robert Brian. (2018) Effects of changing climate on European stream invertebrate communities: A long-term data analysis. Science of the Total Environment
Academic article
Bowler, Diana Elizabeth; Heldbjerg, Henning; Fox, Anthony D.; OHara, Robert Brian; Böhning-Gaese, Katrin. (2018) Disentangling the effects of multiple environmental drivers on population changes within communities. Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
Wells, Konstans; Fordham, Damien A; Brook, Barry W; Cassey, Phillip; Cox, Tarnya; OHara, Robert Brian. (2018) Disentangling synergistic disease dynamics: Implications for the viral biocontrol of rabbits. Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
Tucker, Marlee A.; Böhning-Gaese, Katrin; Fagan, William F.; Fryxell, John M.; Van Moorter, Bram; Alberts, Susan C.. (2018) Moving in the Anthropocene: Global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements. Science
Academic article

2017

OHara, Robert Brian. (2017) Cross-realm assessment of climate change impacts on species' abundance trends. Nature Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Domisch, Sami; Portmann, Felix T.; Kuemmerlen, Mathias; O´Hara, Robert Brian; Johnson, Richard K.; Davy-Bowker, John. (2017) Using streamflow observations to estimate the impact of hydrological regimes and anthropogenic water use on European stream macroinvertebrate occurrences. Ecohydrology
Academic article
OHara, Robert Brian. (2017) Fire has been an important driver of forest dynamics in the Carpathian Mountains during the Holocene. Forest Ecology and Management
Academic article
Bowler, Diana Elizabeth; Haase, Peter; Hof, Christian; Kröncke, Ingrid; Baert, Leon; Dekoninck, Wouter. (2017) Cross-taxa generalities in the relationship between population abundance and ambient temperatures. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
Feurdean, Angelica; Veski, Siim; Florescu, Gabriela; Vanniere, Boris; Pfeiffer, Mirjam; OHara, Robert Brian. (2017) Broadleaf deciduous forest counterbalanced the direct effect of climate on Holocene fire regime in hemiboreal/boreal region (NE Europe). Quaternary Science Reviews
Academic article
OHara, Robert Brian; O'Hara, Robert B; Bottarin, Roberta; Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena; Kuemmerlen, Mathias; Monteith, Don. (2017) Effects of changing climate on European stream invertebrate communities: A long-term data analysis. Science of the Total Environment
Academic article

Journal publications

Dambly, Lea I.; Isaac, Nick J. B.; Jones, Kate E.; Boughey, Katherine L.; O'Hara, Robert Brian. (2023) Integrated species distribution models fitted in INLA are sensitive to mesh parameterisation. Ecography
Academic article
Koch, Wouter; Hogeweg, Laurens; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland; O'Hara, Robert Brian; Finstad, Anders Gravbrøt. (2023) Recognizability bias in citizen science photographs. Royal Society Open Science
Academic article
van der Veen, Bert; Hui, Francis K. C.; Hovstad, Knut Anders; OHara, Robert Brian. (2022) Concurrent ordination: Simultaneous unconstrained and constrained latent variable modelling. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Simmonds, Emily Grace; Adjei, Kwaku Peprah; Andersen, Christoffer Wold; Aspheim, Janne Cathrin Hetle; Battistin, Claudia; Bulso, Nicola. (2022) Insights into the quantification and reporting of model-related uncertainty across different disciplines. iScience
Academic article
Muff, Stefanie; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland; OHara, Robert Brian; Nater, Chloe Rebecca. (2021) Rewriting results sections in the language of evidence. Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Academic literature review
Adde, Antoine; Casabona i Amat, Clara; Mazerolle, Marc J.; Darveau, Marcel; Cumming, Steven G.; OHara, Robert Brian. (2021) Integrated modeling of waterfowl distribution in western Canada using aerial survey and citizen science (eBird) data. Ecosphere
Academic article
van der Veen, Bert; Hui, Francis K. C.; Hovstad, Knut Anders; Solbu, Erik Blystad; OHara, Robert Brian. (2021) Model-based ordination for species with unequal niche widths. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Simmonds, Emily Grace; Jarvis, Susan G.; Henrys, Peter A.; Isaac, Nick J.B.; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Is more data always better? A simulation study of benefits and limitations of integrated distribution models. Ecography
Academic article
Sonne, Jesper; Vizentin-Bugoni, Jeferson; Maruyama, Pietro K.; Araujo, Andréa C.; Chávez-González, Edgar; Coelho, Aline G.. (2020) Ecological mechanisms explaining interactions within plant-hummingbird networks: morphological matching increases towards lower latitudes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
Contina, Andrea; Yanco, Scott; Pierce, Allison; DePrenger-Levin, Michelle; Wunder, Michael; Neophytou, Andreas. (2020) Comment on “A global-scale ecological niche model to predict SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection rate”, author Coro. Ecological Modelling
Academic article
Carlson, Colin; Chipperfield, Joseph; Benito, Blas; Telford, Richard; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Species distribution models are inappropriate for COVID-19. Nature Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Freckleton, Robert; Ellison, Aaron; Liow, Lee Hsiang; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Ten years of Methods in Ecology and Evolution. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Editorial
Perrin, Sam Wenaas; Englund, Göran; Blumentrath, Stefan; OHara, Robert Brian; Amundsen, Per-Arne; Finstad, Anders Gravbrøt. (2020) Integrating dispersal along freshwater ecosystems into species distribution models. Diversity and Distributions: A journal of biological invasions and biodiversity
Academic article
Carlson, Colin; Chipperfield, Joseph; Benito, Blas; Telford, Richard; OHara, Robert Brian. (2020) Don’t gamble the COVID-19 response on ecological hypotheses. Nature Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Norberg, Anna; Abrego, Nerea; Blanchet, F. Guillaume; Adler, Frederick R.; Anderson, Barbara J.; Anttila, Jani. (2019) A comprehensive evaluation of predictive performance of 33 species distribution models at species and community levels. Ecological Monographs
Academic article
Isaac, Nick J.B.; Jarzyna, Marta A.; Keil, Petr; Dambly, Lea I.; Boersch-Supan, Philipp H.; Browning, Ella. (2019) Data integration for large-scale models of species distributions. Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Academic literature review
Bowler, Diana Elizabeth; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland; Bischof, Richard; OHara, Robert Brian; Yu, Thin Thin; Oo, Tun. (2019) Integrating data from different survey types for population monitoring of an endangered species: the case of the Eld’s deer. Scientific Reports
Academic article
Wieser, Andreas; Reuss, Friederike; Niamir, Aidin; Müller, Ruth; OHara, Robert Brian; Pfenninger, Markus. (2019) Modelling seasonal dynamics, population stability, and pest control in Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasites & Vectors
Academic article
Araújo, Miguel B.; Anderson, Robert P.; Barbosa, A. Márcia; Beale, Colin M.; Dormann, Carsten F.; Early, Regan. (2019) Standards for distribution models in biodiversity assessments. Science Advances
Academic article
Björk, Johannes R.; Hui, Francis K.C.; OHara, Robert Brian; Montoya, Jose M.. (2018) Uncovering the drivers of host-associated microbiota with joint species distribution modelling. Molecular Ecology
Academic article
OHara, Robert Brian. (2018) Effects of changing climate on European stream invertebrate communities: A long-term data analysis. Science of the Total Environment
Academic article
Bowler, Diana Elizabeth; Heldbjerg, Henning; Fox, Anthony D.; OHara, Robert Brian; Böhning-Gaese, Katrin. (2018) Disentangling the effects of multiple environmental drivers on population changes within communities. Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
Wells, Konstans; Fordham, Damien A; Brook, Barry W; Cassey, Phillip; Cox, Tarnya; OHara, Robert Brian. (2018) Disentangling synergistic disease dynamics: Implications for the viral biocontrol of rabbits. Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
Tucker, Marlee A.; Böhning-Gaese, Katrin; Fagan, William F.; Fryxell, John M.; Van Moorter, Bram; Alberts, Susan C.. (2018) Moving in the Anthropocene: Global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements. Science
Academic article
OHara, Robert Brian. (2017) Cross-realm assessment of climate change impacts on species' abundance trends. Nature Ecology and Evolution
Academic article
Domisch, Sami; Portmann, Felix T.; Kuemmerlen, Mathias; O´Hara, Robert Brian; Johnson, Richard K.; Davy-Bowker, John. (2017) Using streamflow observations to estimate the impact of hydrological regimes and anthropogenic water use on European stream macroinvertebrate occurrences. Ecohydrology
Academic article
OHara, Robert Brian. (2017) Fire has been an important driver of forest dynamics in the Carpathian Mountains during the Holocene. Forest Ecology and Management
Academic article
Bowler, Diana Elizabeth; Haase, Peter; Hof, Christian; Kröncke, Ingrid; Baert, Leon; Dekoninck, Wouter. (2017) Cross-taxa generalities in the relationship between population abundance and ambient temperatures. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
Feurdean, Angelica; Veski, Siim; Florescu, Gabriela; Vanniere, Boris; Pfeiffer, Mirjam; OHara, Robert Brian. (2017) Broadleaf deciduous forest counterbalanced the direct effect of climate on Holocene fire regime in hemiboreal/boreal region (NE Europe). Quaternary Science Reviews
Academic article
OHara, Robert Brian; O'Hara, Robert B; Bottarin, Roberta; Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena; Kuemmerlen, Mathias; Monteith, Don. (2017) Effects of changing climate on European stream invertebrate communities: A long-term data analysis. Science of the Total Environment
Academic article

Teaching

Courses

Media

2021

Academic lecture

OHara, Robert Brian. (2021) Developing the One True Model(s) for the Distributions of Species. Invited lecture , University of Cape Town (via Zoom) 2021-05-17 -
Poster

Aspheim, Janne Cathrin Hetle; Jensen, Henrik; Reid, Jane Margaret; Bolstad, Geir Hysing; OHara, Robert Brian; Kvalnes, Thomas. (2021) Marker-based estimation of additive genetic variance using dimension-reduction techniques - methods from animal breeding adapted to wild study systems using a Bayesian framework. he 28th Nordic Conference in Mathematical Statistics , Tromsø 2021-06-21 - 2021-06-24

Språkvelger

Robert Brian OHara