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Related Experiment Videos

How much variance is explained by ecologists? Additional perspectives.

Michael S Peek1, A Joshua Leffler, Stephan D Flint

  • 1Department of Forest, Range and Wildlife Sciences and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230, USA. mpeek@cc.usu.edu

Oecologia
|July 3, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Ecologists explain about half of the variation in ecological studies, contrary to previous estimates. This study highlights the importance of appropriate statistical model application for ecological research.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Ecological Statistics

Background:

  • A recent meta-analysis suggested ecologists explain only 2.5%-5.42% of variability.
  • This study challenges those findings, proposing an alternate perspective on explained ecological variation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the proportion of ecological variation explained by statistical models.
  • To contrast findings with Møller and Jennions' meta-analysis of meta-analyses.

Main Methods:

  • Examined published ecological studies across five representative journals.
  • Quantified unexplained variance as residual error relative to total variation within original studies.

Main Results:

  • Statistical models explain approximately 50% of the variation in ecological variables.

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  • This contrasts sharply with the 2.5%-5.42% range previously reported.

    • Conclusions:

    • The discrepancy arises from differing analytical levels: this study used original studies, while Møller and Jennions combined diverse studies.
    • The findings underscore the critical importance of appropriate statistical model application in ecological research.