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Coordinated distributed experiments: an emerging tool for testing global hypotheses in ecology and environmental science
Author(s) -
Fraser Lauchlan H,
Henry Hugh AL,
Carlyle Cameron N,
White Shan R,
Beierkuhnlein Carl,
Cahill James F,
Casper Brenda B,
Cleland Elsa,
Collins Scott L,
Dukes Jeffrey S,
Knapp Alan K,
Lind Eric,
Long Ruijun,
Luo Yiqi,
Reich Peter B,
Smith Melinda D,
Sternberg Marcelo,
Turkington Roy
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/110279
Subject(s) - ecology , scale (ratio) , realization (probability) , environmental resource management , computer science , data science , geography , environmental science , biology , mathematics , cartography , statistics
There is a growing realization among scientists and policy makers that an increased understanding of today's environmental issues requires international collaboration and data synthesis. Meta‐analyses have served this role in ecology for more than a decade, but the different experimental methodologies researchers use can limit the strength of the meta‐analytic approach. Considering the global nature of many environmental issues, a new collaborative approach, which we call coordinated distributed experiments (CDEs), is needed that will control for both spatial and temporal scale, and that encompasses large geographic ranges. Ecological CDEs, involving standardized, controlled protocols, have the potential to advance our understanding of general principles in ecology and environmental science.