[R-sig-ME] Trait specific random effects and covariance between them in MCMCglmm

[Benedikt Holtmann]

Dear list members,

I'm trying to estimate the covariance and correlation of observer-effects
between male and female exploration scores in a bivariate model.
My problem is that observers can differ between males and females (not
always measured together). I use str() to allow covariances to exist
between ObserverFemale and ObserverMale.

My model looks as follows:
prior_multi_2 <- list(R = list(V = diag(2), nu = 0.002), G = list(
  G1 = list(V = diag(2), nu = 2, alpha.mu = rep(0, 2), alpha.V = diag(2) *
1000),
  G2 = list(V = diag(2), nu = 2, alpha.mu = rep(0, 2), alpha.V = diag(2) *
1000),
  G3 = list(V = diag(2), nu = 2, alpha.mu = rep(0, 2), alpha.V = diag(2) *
1000),
  G4 = list(V = diag(2), nu = 2, alpha.mu = rep(0, 2), alpha.V = diag(2) *
1000),
  G5 = list(V = diag(4), nu = 4, alpha.mu = rep(0, 4), alpha.V = diag(4) *
1000)
))

Biv_MCMC <- MCMCglmm(cbind(scale(ExpScoreFemale), scale(ExpScoreMale)) ~
(trait - 1) +
  at.level(trait, 1):scale(AgeFemale) +
  at.level(trait, 2):scale(AgeMale) +
random = ~ us(trait):PairID + us(trait):Plot + us(trait):Year +
us(trait):NestBox + us(trait):str(ObserverFemale + ObserverMale),
rcov = ~ us(trait):units,
prior = prior_multi_2, data = exploration_data, nitt = 13000 * 10, burnin =
3000 * 10, thin = 10 * 10,
pr = TRUE, saveX = TRUE, saveZ = TRUE,
family = c("gaussian", "gaussian")
)

However, since ObserverFemale and ObserverMale are trait-specific, I was
wondering whether there is a way to model trait-specific observer random
effects such as: us(trait):str(at.level(trait,1):ObserverFemale +
at.level(trait,2):ObserverMale)?

I saw that this is possible in ASReml. For example, Class& Brommer 2018,
BiologyLetters 14:20180106 used:
random = ~ str(~at(trait,1):ObserverFemale + at(trait,2):ObserverMale~
us(2):id(12))

Is it possible to fit something similar in MCMCglmm?

Best regards,
Benedikt

-------------------------------------------------------
*Dr Benedikt Holtmann*
DFG Research Fellow
Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology II
Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich
Großhaderner Straße 2
82152 Planegg-Martinsried
Germany

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