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RI n S p: an r package for the analysis of individual specialization in resource use
Author(s) -
Zaccarelli Nicola,
Bolnick Daniel I.,
Mancinelli Giorgio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
methods in ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.425
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2041-210X
DOI - 10.1111/2041-210x.12079
Subject(s) - r package , jackknife resampling , categorical variable , resource (disambiguation) , computer science , scope (computer science) , resampling , set (abstract data type) , statistics , econometrics , mathematics , programming language , computer network , estimator
Summary In the last decade, an increasing number of papers testifies a renewed interest in the topic of individual specialization in resource use and its implication at higher levels of ecological organization. We present the package R Individual Specialization ( RI n S p) for the free open‐source statistical software r . RI n S p provides a comprehensive set of classical and recently proposed indices for quantifying the degree of individual specialization using both categorical and continuous resource use data. The package also includes tools for ad hoc M onte C arlo and jackknife resampling procedures for significance testing, plotting and input/output data manipulation. The use of RI n S p is demonstrated by two examples. In addition, the potential of the package to be implemented beyond its original scope for multi‐level quantitative analyses of individual trait variance in natural communities is illustrated.