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A simple parametric method for reducing sample sizes in gut passage time trials
Author(s) -
Rawsthorne John,
Roshier David A.,
Murphy Sean R.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/08-1137.1
Subject(s) - simple (philosophy) , ecology , parametric statistics , biological system , sample (material) , statistics , sample size determination , environmental science , mathematics , biology , physics , philosophy , epistemology , thermodynamics
Seed dispersal is now regularly analyzed using spatially explicit models, relying in part on frugivore gut passage times to produce model outputs. In determining species‐specific gut passage times, there is a trade‐off in sample size between minimizing collection effort and maintaining statistical reliability. Here we demonstrate that a two‐parameter lognormal parametric distribution reliably fits empirical gut passage time distributions and is easily parameterized using relatively small data sets of approximately 30 defecations. We suggest this approach as a statistically reliable substitute for larger empirical gut passage data sets in seed dispersal modeling, and also as a way of using published gut passage data sets to parameterize new models.