Addressing context dependence in ecology

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 37(2), С. 158 - 170

Опубликована: Окт. 30, 2021

Context dependence is widely invoked to explain disparate results in ecology. It arises when the magnitude or sign of a relationship varies due conditions under which it observed. Such variation, especially unexplained, can lead spurious seemingly contradictory conclusions, limit understanding and our ability transfer findings across studies, space, time. Using examples from biological invasions, we identify two types context resulting four sources: mechanistic interaction effects; apparent arise presence confounding factors, problems statistical inference, methodological differences among studies. Addressing critical challenge ecology, essential for increased prediction.

Язык: Английский

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Empirical evidence of widespread exaggeration bias and selective reporting in ecology

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 7(9), С. 1525 - 1536

Опубликована: Авг. 3, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Female behavior drives the formation of distinct social structures in C57BL/6J versus wild-derived outbred mice in field enclosures

BMC Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 22(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 14, 2024

Abstract Background Social behavior and social organization have major influences on individual health fitness. Yet, biomedical research focuses studying a few genotypes under impoverished conditions. Understanding how lab conditions modified organizations of model organisms, such as mice, relative to natural populations is missing link between socioecology science. Results Using common garden design, we describe the formation structure in well-studied laboratory mouse strain, C57BL/6J, replicated mixed-sex over 10-day trials compared control with wild-derived outbred house mice outdoor field enclosures. We focus three key features systems: (i) territory establishment males, (ii) female relationships, (iii) networks formed by populations. Male territorial behaviors were similar but muted C57 mice. Female sharply differed from females, showing little bias toward cage mates exploring substantially more enclosures all other groups. consistently generated denser than Conclusions individually vary their spatial which scale shape overall organization. The repeatable societies highlights opportunities experimentally study interplay society biology using organisms.

Язык: Английский

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Replication in field ecology: Identifying challenges and proposing solutions

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 12(10), С. 1780 - 1792

Опубликована: Июнь 9, 2021

Abstract Field ecology has been included in a ‘replication crisis’ that extends across many scientific disciplines. However, the underlying concepts of replication, reproducibility and replicability are not always clearly distinguished, complicate identification best practices. Furthermore, conducting experiments under high variability natural field conditions reduces capacity for replication relative to other biological disciplines working controlled conditions. ecologists therefore facing significant challenge assessing their research with implications overall confidence study outcomes. Through review literature, we discuss several related aspects experimental design can enhance Specifically, describe sample (repeat sample), within‐study experiment) between‐study study) how each be used within ecology. Since perfect (i.e. direct replication) is generally possible ecology, suggest more explicit use conceptual would such changes require cultural shifts practice among all participants enterprise. We tangible steps could taken improve ecological research: (a) increase before publication, (b) control (e.g. pre‐register experiments, open data, publish code), (c) divest from novelty as primary criterion publication leading journals invest design, (d) sceptical contradictory findings studies testing similar questions (e) create publishing environment encourages studies. believe adopting these practices will results There critical obstacles prevent some scientists increasing or including short‐term funding mechanisms prospect fewer publications. strategies mitigate negative impacts researchers, piloting new article categories mention experimentally linked acknowledge greater practices, but there clear benefits improving our science.

Язык: Английский

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Personality, density and habitat drive the dispersal of invasive crayfish

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 21, 2022

Abstract There is increasing evidence that personality traits may drive dispersal patterns of animals, including invasive species. We investigated, using the widespread signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus as a model species, whether effects on were independent of, or affected by, other factors population density, habitat, size, sex and limb loss, along an invasion gradient. Behavioural (boldness, activity, exploration, willingness to climb) 310 individually marked measured at fully-established, newly-established front sites two upland streams. After period liberty, recaptured reassessed for behavioural (newly-established, front). Dispersal distance direction movement, local fine-scale habitat characteristics loss also measured. Individual exhibited consistency in over time which formed syndrome. was both positively negatively by traits, density refuge availability. No effect recorded. Personality played role promoting but complexity important determinants. Predicting biological animals likely require better integration these processes.

Язык: Английский

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Publication bias impacts on effect size, statistical power, and magnitude (Type M) and sign (Type S) errors in ecology and evolutionary biology

BMC Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 21(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 3, 2023

Abstract Collaborative efforts to directly replicate empirical studies in the medical and social sciences have revealed alarmingly low rates of replicability, a phenomenon dubbed ‘replication crisis’. Poor replicability has spurred cultural changes targeted at improving reliability these disciplines. Given absence equivalent replication projects ecology evolutionary biology, two inter-related indicators offer opportunity retrospectively assess replicability: publication bias statistical power. This registered report assesses prevalence severity small-study (i.e., smaller reporting larger effect sizes) decline effects sizes decreasing over time) across biology using 87 meta-analyses comprising 4,250 primary 17,638 sizes. Further, we estimate how might distort estimation sizes, power, errors magnitude (Type M or exaggeration ratio) sign S). We show strong evidence for pervasiveness both evolution. There was widespread that resulted meta-analytic means being over-estimated by (at least) 0.12 standard deviations. The distorted confidence results, with 66% initially statistically significant becoming non-significant after correcting bias. Ecological consistently had power (15%) 4-fold on average error = 4.4). Notably, reduced from 23% 15% increased type 2.7 4.4 because it creates non-random sample size evidence. S error) 5% 8% Our research provides clear many published ecological findings are inflated. results highlight importance designing high-power (e.g., via collaborative team science), promoting encouraging studies, testing meta-analyses, adopting open transparent practices, such as (pre)registration, data- code-sharing, reporting.

Язык: Английский

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Compromise or choose: shared movement decisions in wild vulturine guineafowl

Communications Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 7(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 13, 2024

Abstract Shared-decision making is beneficial for the maintenance of group-living. However, little known about whether consensus decision-making follows similar processes across different species. Addressing this question requires robust quantification how individuals move relative to each other. Here we use high-resolution GPS-tracking two vulturine guineafowl ( Acryllium vulturinum ) groups test predictions from a classic theoretical model collective motion. We show that, in both groups, all can successfully initiate directional movements, although males are more likely be followed than females. When multiple group members simultaneously, follower decisions depend on agreement, with followers compromising directions if difference between them small or choosing majority direction large. By aligning and replicating findings previous field study olive baboons Papio anubis ), our results suggest that common process governs moving animal groups.

Язык: Английский

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The role of replication studies in ecology

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 10(12), С. 5197 - 5207

Опубликована: Май 22, 2020

Abstract Recent large‐scale projects in other disciplines have shown that results often fail to replicate when studies are repeated. The conditions contributing this problem also present ecology, but there not been any equivalent replication projects. Here, we survey ecologists' understanding of and opinions about studies. majority ecologists our sample considered be important (97%), prevalent enough (91%), worth funding even given limited resources (61%), suitable for publication all journals (62%). However, is a disconnect between enthusiasm the prevalence direct literature which much lower (0.023%: Kelly 2019) than participants' median estimate 10%. This may explained by obstacles participants identified including difficulty conducting publishing them. We conclude offering suggestions how replications could better integrated into ecological research.

Язык: Английский

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Low statistical power and overestimated anthropogenic impacts, exacerbated by publication bias, dominate field studies in global change biology

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 28(3), С. 969 - 989

Опубликована: Ноя. 4, 2021

Field studies are essential to reliably quantify ecological responses global change because they exposed realistic climate manipulations. Yet such limited in replicates, resulting less power and, therefore, potentially unreliable effect estimates. Furthermore, while manipulative field experiments assumed be more powerful than non-manipulative observations, it has rarely been scrutinized using extensive data. Here, 3847 that were designed estimate the of environmental stressors on ecosystems, we systematically quantified their statistical and magnitude (Type M) sign S) errors. Our investigations focused upon reliability assess both ecosystem's response variability. When controlling for publication bias, single underpowered detect (median power: 18%-38% depending sizes). Single also had much lower variability (6%-12% sizes) magnitude. Such could exaggerate estimates by 2-3 times M errors) 4-10 times. Type S errors comparatively rare. These observations indicate low power, coupled with inflates anthropogenic impacts. Importantly, found meta-analyses largely mitigated issues exaggerated size Rather surprisingly, very similar results terms Therefore, previous assumption about superiority is overstated. call highly powered inform theory building policymaking, via collaboration team science, large-scale ecosystem facilities. Future require transparent reporting open science practices approach reproducible reliable empirical work evidence synthesis.

Язык: Английский

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Computationally reproducing results from meta-analyses in ecology and evolutionary biology using shared code and data

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 19(3), С. e0300333 - e0300333

Опубликована: Март 13, 2024

Many journals in ecology and evolutionary biology encourage or require authors to make their data code available alongside articles. In this study we investigated how often could be used together, when both were available, computationally reproduce results published We surveyed the sharing practices of 177 meta-analyses between 2015–17: 60% articles shared only, 1% 15% code. each which had ( n = 26), selected a target result attempted it. Using files, successfully reproduced targeted 27–73% 26 articles, depending on stringency criteria applied for successful reproduction. The from sample 2015–17 literature can provide benchmark future meta-research studies gauging computational reproducibility research biology.

Язык: Английский

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