Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Naturalistic Observations

Naturalistic Observations

If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...

Difference from Background: Limit of Detection

Difference from Background: Limit of Detection

The limit of detection (LOD) is the smallest amount of analyte that can be distinguished from the background noise. The LOD value corresponds to the concentration at which the analyte signal is three times larger than the standard deviation of the blank signal. Below this value, the analyte signal cannot be differentiated from the background noise. It is calculated by dividing the calibration slope by 3 times the standard deviation of the blank signals.
The LOD indicates the presence or absence...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Investigation and Treatment of Infertility in a Female Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis).

Zoo biology·2025

Same author

The Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium Budgets for a Small Forested Ecosystem.

Ecology·2021

Same author

Bioturbation by a reintroduced digging mammal reduces fuel loads in an urban reserve.

Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America·2019

Same author

Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian birds.

Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·2018

Same author

How to improve threatened species management: An Australian perspective.

Journal of environmental management·2018

Same author

Effects of a large wildfire on vegetation structure in a variable fire mosaic.

Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns

A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns

Published on: January 9, 2019

Improved probability of detection of ecological "surprises".

D B Lindenmayer¹, G E Likens, C J Krebs

¹Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. lindenmayer@anu.edu.au

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|November 25, 2010

Summary

Ecological surprises, unexpected environmental findings, are crucial for advancing ecological understanding and resource management. This study identifies key lessons from long-term research to better detect and anticipate these events.

More Related Videos

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Published on: November 5, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns

A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns

Published on: January 9, 2019

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Published on: November 5, 2020

Area of Science:

Ecology
Environmental Science

Background:

Ecological surprises are unexpected findings that challenge current ecological knowledge and resource management practices.
Despite their importance, understanding how to better identify and anticipate ecological surprises remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To outline types of ecological surprises observed in long-term global research programs.
To identify lessons for improving the detection and anticipation of ecological surprises.

Main Methods:

Analysis of case studies from long-term ecological research programs in diverse global ecosystems.
Identification of recurring themes and actionable lessons from these case studies.

Main Results:

Ecological surprises arise from various long-term research contexts.
Key lessons include maintaining long-term studies, conducting parallel research, utilizing literature and models, and leveraging natural disturbances.

Conclusions:

Implementing these lessons can enhance the ability to detect, anticipate, and manage ecological surprises.
Increased anticipatory capacity is vital as climate change and environmental stressors may increase the frequency of ecological surprises.