Definition of sampling units begets conclusions in ecology: the case of habitats for plant communities

PeerJ
Martin A MörsdorfKari Anne Bråthen

Abstract

In ecology, expert knowledge on habitat characteristics is often used to define sampling units such as study sites. Ecologists are especially prone to such approaches when prior sampling frames are not accessible. Here we ask to what extent can different approaches to the definition of sampling units influence the conclusions that are drawn from an ecological study? We do this by comparing a formal versus a subjective definition of sampling units within a study design which is based on well-articulated objectives and proper methodology. Both approaches are applied to tundra plant communities in mesic and snowbed habitats. For the formal approach, sampling units were first defined for each habitat in concave terrain of suitable slope using GIS. In the field, these units were only accepted as the targeted habitats if additional criteria for vegetation cover were fulfilled. For the subjective approach, sampling units were defined visually in the field, based on typical plant communities of mesic and snowbed habitats. For each approach, we collected information about plant community characteristics within a total of 11 mesic and seven snowbed units distributed between two herding districts of contrasting reindeer density. Results f...Continue Reading

References

Apr 3, 2001·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·H T Schreuder, T G Gregoire
May 26, 2010·Ecology Letters·Petra M KuhnertShane P Griffiths
Apr 1, 1993·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·M Vicari, D R Bazely
Jun 11, 2011·Science·David A WardleWim H Van der Putten
Jan 28, 2012·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Tara G MartinKerrie Mengersen
May 14, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M Granger Morgan

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Citations

Apr 23, 2019·Global Ecology and Biogeography : a Journal of Macroecology·H J D ThomasP M van Bodegom

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Software Mentioned

R
nlme
ArcMap
GIS ArcGIS

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