Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities

Ecological studies require key decisions regarding the appropriate size and number of sampling units. No methods currently exist to measure precision for multivariate assemblage data when dissimilarity-based analyses are intended to follow. Here, we propose a pseudo multivariate dissimilarity-based...

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Main Authors: Anderson, M., Santana Garcon, Julia
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37308
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author Anderson, M.
Santana Garcon, Julia
author_facet Anderson, M.
Santana Garcon, Julia
author_sort Anderson, M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Ecological studies require key decisions regarding the appropriate size and number of sampling units. No methods currently exist to measure precision for multivariate assemblage data when dissimilarity-based analyses are intended to follow. Here, we propose a pseudo multivariate dissimilarity-based standard error (MultSE) as a useful quantity for assessing sample-size adequacy in studies of ecological communities. Based on sums of squared dissimilarities, MultSE measures variability in the position of the centroid in the space of a chosen dissimilarity measure under repeated sampling for a given sample size. We describe a novel double resampling method to quantify uncertainty in MultSE values with increasing sample size. For more complex designs, values of MultSE can be calculated from the pseudo residual mean square of a permanova model, with the double resampling done within appropriate cells in the design. R code functions for implementing these techniques, along with ecological examples, are provided.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-373082018-03-29T09:07:22Z Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities Anderson, M. Santana Garcon, Julia Ecological studies require key decisions regarding the appropriate size and number of sampling units. No methods currently exist to measure precision for multivariate assemblage data when dissimilarity-based analyses are intended to follow. Here, we propose a pseudo multivariate dissimilarity-based standard error (MultSE) as a useful quantity for assessing sample-size adequacy in studies of ecological communities. Based on sums of squared dissimilarities, MultSE measures variability in the position of the centroid in the space of a chosen dissimilarity measure under repeated sampling for a given sample size. We describe a novel double resampling method to quantify uncertainty in MultSE values with increasing sample size. For more complex designs, values of MultSE can be calculated from the pseudo residual mean square of a permanova model, with the double resampling done within appropriate cells in the design. R code functions for implementing these techniques, along with ecological examples, are provided. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37308 10.1111/ele.12385 Blackwell Publishing Ltd restricted
spellingShingle Anderson, M.
Santana Garcon, Julia
Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
title Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
title_full Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
title_fullStr Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
title_full_unstemmed Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
title_short Measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
title_sort measures of precision for dissimilarity-based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37308