Mass‐dependent mass loss: how to get the null hypothesis wrong

In ecological studies there is often considerable interest in the question whether the magnitude of mass loss in animals depends on their initial mass. Cichon et al. have recently questioned the validity of conventional statistical testing of relations between mass loss and initial mass, and derived a new null hypothesis to be used for a “correct” statistical analysis. Here, I demonstrate that the method employed by Cichon et al. is wrong and leads to false conclusions. Hence, there is no need to reverse the biological interpretation of previously published results.