An exploratory data analysis (EDA) of the paths of moving animals

This work presents an exploratory data analysis of the trajectories of deer and elk moving about in the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in eastern Oregon. The animals' movements may be affected by habitat variables and the behavior of the other animals. In the work of this paper a stochastic differential equation-based model is developed in successive stages. Equations of motion are set down motivated by corresponding equations of physics. Functional parameters appearing in the equations are estimated nonparametrically and plots of vector fields of animal movements are prepared. Residuals are used to look for interactions amongst the movements of the animals. There are exploratory analyses of various sorts. Statistical inferences are based on Fourier transforms of the data, which are unequally spaced. The sections of the paper start with motivating quotes and aphorisms from the writings of John W. Tukey. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.