Field-of-view subsampling: A novel 'exotic marker' method for absolute abundances, validated by simulation and...

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Ecology
• Quantitative Biology

Background:

• Estimating biological population sizes and biomass requires absolute values, often derived from sample counts using exotic markers.
• The traditional linear method for estimating absolute abundance is accurate but can be prohibitively time-consuming for routine application.
• Existing methods for absolute abundance estimation lack efficiency for large-scale ecological and paleontological sample analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel, efficient method for estimating absolute abundance: the field-of-view subsampling method (FOVS method).
• To compare the accuracy, precision, and effort of the FOVS method against the traditional linear method.
• To provide guidelines and tools for implementing the FOVS method in scientific research.

Main Methods:

• Developed the field-of-view subsampling method (FOVS method), requiring standard inputs plus additional statistical parameters.
• Validated the FOVS method using Monte Carlo simulations with idealized datasets.
• Empirically tested the FOVS method against the linear method using terrestrial organic microfossils from Permian-Triassic strata.

Main Results:

• The FOVS method demonstrated increased precision and/or reduced data collection effort across most tested conditions, without compromising accuracy.
• The traditional linear method was only more efficient in rare scenarios of very low specimen density or near-equivalent target-to-marker ratios.
• Case studies confirmed the FOVS method's superior performance in real-world microfossil abundance estimation.

Conclusions:

• The FOVS method is a highly efficient and precise technique for estimating absolute abundance in biological populations, suitable for routine use.
• The FOVS method offers significant advantages over the linear method in terms of speed and precision for ecological and paleontological studies.
• The developed FOVS method has broad applicability to any spatial data collection requiring absolute abundance estimates with introduced markers.