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Giacometti D, Palaoro AV, Leal LC, de Barros FC. How seasonality influences the thermal biology of lizards with different thermoregulatory strategies: a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:409-429. [PMID: 37872698 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Ectotherms that maintain thermal balance in the face of varying climates should be able to colonise a wide range of habitats. In lizards, thermoregulation usually appears as a variety of behaviours that buffer external influences over physiology. Basking species rely on solar radiation to raise body temperatures and usually show high thermoregulatory precision. By contrast, species that do not bask are often constrained by climatic conditions in their habitats, thus having lower thermoregulatory precision. While much focus has been given to the effects of mean habitat temperatures, relatively less is known about how seasonality affects the thermal biology of lizards on a macroecological scale. Considering the current climate crisis, assessing how lizards cope with temporal variations in environmental temperature is essential to understand better how these organisms will fare under climate change. Activity body temperatures (Tb ) represent the internal temperature of an animal measured in nature during its active period (i.e. realised thermal niche), and preferred body temperatures (Tpref ) are those selected by an animal in a laboratory thermal gradient that lacks thermoregulatory costs (i.e. fundamental thermal niche). Both traits form the bulk of thermal ecology research and are often studied in the context of seasonality. In this study, we used a meta-analysis to test how environmental temperature seasonality influences the seasonal variation in the Tb and Tpref of lizards that differ in thermoregulatory strategy (basking versus non-basking). Based on 333 effect sizes from 137 species, we found that Tb varied over a greater magnitude than Tpref across seasons. Variations in Tb were not influenced by environmental temperature seasonality; however, body size and thermoregulatory strategy mediated Tb responses. Specifically, larger species were subjected to greater seasonal variations in Tb , and basking species endured greater seasonal variations in Tb compared to non-basking species. On the other hand, the seasonal variation in Tpref increased with environmental temperature seasonality regardless of body size. Thermoregulatory strategy also influenced Tpref , suggesting that behaviour has an important role in mediating Tpref responses to seasonal variations in the thermal landscape. After controlling for phylogenetic effects, we showed that Tb and Tpref varied significantly across lizard families. Taken together, our results support the notion that the relationship between thermal biology responses and climatic parameters can be taxon and trait dependent. Our results also showcase the importance of considering ecological and behavioural aspects in macroecological studies. We further highlight current systematic, geographical, and knowledge gaps in thermal ecology research. Our work should benefit those who aim to understand more fully how seasonality shapes thermal biology in lizards, ultimately contributing to the goal of elucidating the evolution of temperature-sensitive traits in ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Giacometti
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Professor Artur Riedel 275, Diadema, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brasil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S3A1, Canada
| | - Alexandre V Palaoro
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Professor Artur Riedel 275, Diadema, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brasil
- Department of Material Sciences and Engineering, 490 Sirrine Hall, Clemson University, 515 Calhoun Dr, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão Trav. 14, São Paulo, 05508-090, Brasil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Avenida Coronel Francisco H. dos Santos 100, Curitiba, Paraná, 82590-300, Brasil
| | - Laura C Leal
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Professor Artur Riedel 275, Diadema, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brasil
| | - Fábio C de Barros
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Professor Artur Riedel 275, Diadema, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brasil
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Avenida Juca Stockler 1130, Passos, Minas Gerais, 37900-106, Brasil
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2
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'Small Data' for big insights in ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2023:S0169-5347(23)00019-8. [PMID: 36797167 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Big Data science has significantly furthered our understanding of complex systems by harnessing large volumes of data, generated at high velocity and in great variety. However, there is a risk that Big Data collection is prioritised to the detriment of 'Small Data' (data with few observations). This poses a particular risk to ecology where Small Data abounds. Machine learning experts are increasingly looking to Small Data to drive the next generation of innovation, leading to development in methods for Small Data such as transfer learning, knowledge graphs, and synthetic data. Meanwhile, meta-analysis and causal reasoning approaches are evolving to provide new insights from Small Data. These advances should add value to high-quality Small Data catalysing future insights for ecology.
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3
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Siegmund GF, Geber MA. Statistical inference for seed mortality and germination with seed bank experiments. Ecology 2022; 104:e3948. [PMID: 36495246 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Plant population ecologists regularly study soil seed banks with seed bag burial and seed addition experiments. These experiments contribute crucial data to demographic models, but we lack standard methods to analyze them. Here, we propose statistical models to estimate seed mortality and germination with observations from these experiments. We develop these models following the principles of event history analysis, and analyze their identifiability and statistical properties by algebraic methods and simulation. We demonstrate that seed bag burial, but not seed addition experiments, can be used to make inferences about age-dependent mortality and germination. When mortality and germination do not change with seed age, both experiments produce unbiased estimates but seed bag burial experiments are more precise. However, seed mortality and germination estimates may be inaccurate when the statistical model that is fit makes incorrect assumptions about the age dependence of mortality and germination. The statistical models and simulations that we present here can be adopted and modified by plant population ecologists to strengthen inferences about seed mortality and germination in the soil seed bank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor-Fausto Siegmund
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Monica A Geber
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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4
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Gilman E, Chaloupka M, Benaka LR, Bowlby H, Fitchett M, Kaiser M, Musyl M. Phylogeny explains capture mortality of sharks and rays in pelagic longline fisheries: a global meta-analytic synthesis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18164. [PMID: 36307432 PMCID: PMC9616952 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21976-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Apex and mesopredators such as elasmobranchs are important for maintaining ocean health and are the focus of conservation efforts to mitigate exposure to fishing and other anthropogenic hazards. Quantifying fishing mortality components such as at-vessel mortality (AVM) is necessary for effective bycatch management. We assembled a database for 61 elasmobranch species and conducted a global meta-synthesis to estimate pelagic longline AVM rates. Evolutionary history was a significant predictor of AVM, accounting for up to 13% of variance in Bayesian phylogenetic meta-regression models for Lamniformes and Carcharhiniformes clades. Phylogenetically related species may have a high degree of shared traits that explain AVM. Model-estimated posterior mean AVM rates ranged from 5% (95% HDI 0.1%-16%) for pelagic stingrays and 76% (95% HDI 49%-90%) for salmon sharks. Measures that reduce catch, and hence AVM levels, such as input controls, bycatch quotas and gear technology to increase selectivity are appropriate for species with higher AVM rates. In addition to reducing catchability, handling-and-release practices and interventions such as retention bans in shark sanctuaries and bans on shark finning and trade hold promise for species with lower AVM rates. Robust, and where applicable, phylogenetically-adjusted elasmobranch AVM rates are essential for evidence-informed bycatch policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Gilman
- The Safina Center, Honolulu, USA.
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Milani Chaloupka
- Ecological Modelling Services Pty Ltd and Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lee R Benaka
- Office of Science and Technology, U.S. NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, USA
| | - Heather Bowlby
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans, Dartmouth, Canada
| | - Mark Fitchett
- Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Honolulu, USA
| | - Michel Kaiser
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
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Smith SW, Rahman NEB, Harrison ME, Shiodera S, Giesen W, Lampela M, Wardle DA, Chong KY, Agusti R, Wijedasa LS, Teo PY, Fatimah YA, Teng NT, Yeo JKQ, Alam MJ, Brugues Sintes P, Darusman T, Graham LLB, Katoppo DR, Kojima K, Kusin K, Lestari DP, Metali F, Morrogh‐Bernard HC, Nahor MB, Napitupulu RRP, Nasir D, Nath TK, Nilus R, Norisada M, Rachmanadi D, Rachmat HH, Ripoll Capilla B, Salahuddin, Santosa PB, Sukri RS, Tay B, Tuah W, Wedeux BMM, Yamanoshita T, Yokoyama EY, Yuwati TW, Lee JSH. Tree species that ‘live slow, die older’ enhance tropical peat swamp restoration: evidence from a systematic review. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stuart W. Smith
- Asian School of Environment Nanyang Technological University Singapore
- Department of Physical Geography Stockholm University Sweden
| | | | - Mark E. Harrison
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter UK
- School of Geography, Geology and the Environment University of Leicester UK
| | - Satomi Shiodera
- Department of Global Liberal Studies, Faculty of Global Liberal Studies Nanzan University Japan
- Centre for Southeast Asian Studies Kyoto University Japan
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature Japan
| | - Wim Giesen
- Euroconsult Mott MacDonald the Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Centre the Netherlands
| | - Maija Lampela
- Environmental Research Institute National University of Singapore Singapore
- Department of Forest Sciences University of Helsinki Finland
| | - David A. Wardle
- Asian School of Environment Nanyang Technological University Singapore
| | - Kwek Yan Chong
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore
| | - Randi Agusti
- Environmental Research Institute National University of Singapore Singapore
- Natural Kapital Indonesia Pontianak Indonesia
| | - Lahiru S. Wijedasa
- Environmental Research Institute National University of Singapore Singapore
- BirdLife International Cambridge UK
- ConservationLinks Pvt Ltd Singapore
| | - Pei Yun Teo
- Asian School of Environment Nanyang Technological University Singapore
- Future Cities Lab Global Singapore‐ETH Centre Singapore
| | - Yuti A. Fatimah
- Asian School of Environment Nanyang Technological University Singapore
| | | | - Joanne K. Q. Yeo
- Asian School of Environment Nanyang Technological University Singapore
| | - M. Jahangir Alam
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Malaysia
| | | | | | - Laura L. B. Graham
- Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Indonesia
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre University of the Sunshine Coast Australia
| | | | - Katsumi Kojima
- Asian Research Center for Bioresource and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Japan
| | - Kitso Kusin
- Centre for the International Cooperation in Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatlands University of Palangka Raya Indonesia
| | | | - Faizah Metali
- Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam Brunei Darussalam
| | - Helen C. Morrogh‐Bernard
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter UK
| | | | | | - Darmae Nasir
- Centre for the International Cooperation in Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatlands University of Palangka Raya Indonesia
| | - Tapan Kumar Nath
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Malaysia
| | | | - Mariko Norisada
- Asian Research Center for Bioresource and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Japan
| | - Dony Rachmanadi
- Research Center of Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Indonesia
| | - Henti H. Rachmat
- Research Center of Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Indonesia
| | | | - Salahuddin
- Yayasan Borneo Nature Indonesia, Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan Indonesia
- Centre for the International Cooperation in Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatlands University of Palangka Raya Indonesia
| | - Purwanto B. Santosa
- Research Center of Plant Conservation, Botanical Garden and Forestry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Indonesia
| | - Rahayu S. Sukri
- Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research Universiti Brunei Darussalam Brunei Darussalam
| | | | - Wardah Tuah
- Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research Universiti Brunei Darussalam Brunei Darussalam
| | - Béatrice M. M. Wedeux
- Department of Plant Sciences University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute Cambridge UK
| | - Takashi Yamanoshita
- Asian Research Center for Bioresource and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Japan
| | | | - Tri Wira Yuwati
- Research Center of Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Indonesia
| | - Janice S. H. Lee
- Asian School of Environment Nanyang Technological University Singapore
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6
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Uddin ME, van Lingen HJ, da Silva-Pires PG, Batonon-Alavo DI, Rouffineau F, Kebreab E. Evaluating growth response of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with synthetic DL-methionine or DL-hydroxy methionine: A meta-analysis. Poult Sci 2022; 101:101762. [PMID: 35278757 PMCID: PMC8917292 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M E Uddin
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Dairy and Food Science Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Henk J van Lingen
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EJ Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Paula G da Silva-Pires
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ermias Kebreab
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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7
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Fernández-Pascual E, Vaz M, Morais B, Reiné R, Ascaso J, Afif Khouri E, Carta A. Seed ecology of European mesic meadows. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 129:121-134. [PMID: 34718398 PMCID: PMC8796674 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS European mesic meadows are semi-natural open habitats of high biodiversity and an essential part of European landscapes. These species-rich communities can be a source of seed mixes for ecological restoration, urban greening and rewilding. However, limited knowledge of species germination traits is a bottleneck to the development of a competitive native seed industry. Here, we synthesize the seed ecology of mesic meadows. METHODS We combined our own experimental data with data obtained from databases to create a combined dataset containing 2005 germination records of 90 plant species from 31 European countries. We performed a Bayesian meta-analysis of this dataset to test the seed germination response to environmental cues including scarification, stratification, temperature, alternating temperature and light. We also used multivariate ordination to check the relationship between seed traits (germination and morphology) and species ecological preferences, and to compare the seed ecology of mesic meadows with that of other herbaceous plant communities from the same geographic area. KEY RESULTS The seed ecology of mesic meadows is characterized by (1) high seed germinability when compared with other herbaceous plant communities; (2) low correspondence between seed traits and species ecological preferences; and (3) a deep phylogenetic separation between the two major families, Poaceae and Fabaceae. Poaceae produce many light seeds that respond to gap-detecting germination cues (alternating temperatures and light); Fabaceae produce fewer heavy seeds, which need scarification to break their physical dormancy. CONCLUSIONS High germinability of meadow seeds will reduce their capacity to form persistent seed banks, resulting in dispersal limitations to passive regeneration. For centuries, human activities have shaped the regeneration of meadows, leading to a loss of seed dormancy and decoupling seeds from seasonal cycles, as has been found in many domesticated species. The same anthropic processes that have shaped semi-natural mesic meadows have left them dependent on continued human intervention for their regeneration, highlighting the importance of active restoration via seed supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Fernández-Pascual
- IMIB—Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Oviedo, Mieres, Spain
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo/Uviéu, Spain
| | - Madalena Vaz
- Banco Português de Germoplasma Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Braga, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Morais
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo/Uviéu, Spain
| | - Ramón Reiné
- Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias y Medio Natural, Universidad de Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain
| | - Joaquín Ascaso
- Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias y Medio Natural, Universidad de Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain
| | - Elías Afif Khouri
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo/Uviéu, Spain
| | - Angelino Carta
- CIRSEC - Centre for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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8
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Cinar O, Nakagawa S, Viechtbauer W. Phylogenetic multilevel meta‐analysis: A simulation study on the importance of modelling the phylogeny. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ozan Cinar
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology School for Mental Health and Neuroscience Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Centre, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences BEES University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Wolfgang Viechtbauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology School for Mental Health and Neuroscience Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
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9
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Ogle K, Liu Y, Vicca S, Bahn M. A hierarchical, multivariate meta-analysis approach to synthesising global change experiments. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:2382-2394. [PMID: 34137037 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Meta-analyses enable synthesis of results from globally distributed experiments to draw general conclusions about the impacts of global change factors on ecosystem function. Traditional meta-analyses, however, are challenged by the complexity and diversity of experimental results. We illustrate how several key issues can be addressed by a multivariate, hierarchical Bayesian meta-analysis (MHBM) approach applied to information extracted from published studies. We applied an MHBM to log-response ratios for aboveground biomass (AB, n = 300), belowground biomass (BB, n = 205) and soil CO2 exchange (SCE, n = 544), representing 100 studies. The MHBM accounted for study duration, climate effects and covariation among the AB, BB and SCE responses to elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) and/or warming. The MHBM revealed significant among-study covariation in the AB and BB responses to experimental treatments. The MHBM imputed missing duration (4.2%) and climate (6%) data, and revealed that climate context governs how eCO2 and warming impact ecosystem function. Predictions identified biomes that may be particularly sensitive to eCO2 or warming, but that are under-represented in global change experiments. The MHBM approach offers a flexible and powerful tool for synthesising disparate experimental results reported across multiple studies, sites and response variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiona Ogle
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Yao Liu
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Sara Vicca
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Michael Bahn
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
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10
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Nakagawa S, Senior AM, Viechtbauer W, Noble DWA. An assessment of statistical methods for non-independent data in ecological meta-analyses: Comment. Ecology 2021; 103:e03490. [PMID: 34292593 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Recently, Song et al. (2020) conducted a simulation study using different methods to deal with non-independence resulting from effect sizes originating from the same paper - a common occurrence in ecological meta-analyses. The main methods that were of interest in their simulations were: 1) a standard random-effects model used in combination with a weighted average effect size for each paper (i.e., a two-step method), 2) a standard random-effects model after randomly choosing one effect size per paper, 3) a multilevel (hierarchical) meta-analysis model, modelling paper identity as a random factor, and 4) a meta-analysis making use of a robust variance estimation method. Based on their simulation results, they recommend that meta-analysts should either use the two-step method, which involves taking a weighted paper mean followed by analysis with a random-effects model, or the robust variance estimation method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Alistair M Senior
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Wolfgang Viechtbauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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11
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Bayesian Methods for Meta-Analyses of Binary Outcomes: Implementations, Examples, and Impact of Priors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18073492. [PMID: 33801771 PMCID: PMC8036799 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Bayesian methods are an important set of tools for performing meta-analyses. They avoid some potentially unrealistic assumptions that are required by conventional frequentist methods. More importantly, meta-analysts can incorporate prior information from many sources, including experts’ opinions and prior meta-analyses. Nevertheless, Bayesian methods are used less frequently than conventional frequentist methods, primarily because of the need for nontrivial statistical coding, while frequentist approaches can be implemented via many user-friendly software packages. This article aims at providing a practical review of implementations for Bayesian meta-analyses with various prior distributions. We present Bayesian methods for meta-analyses with the focus on odds ratio for binary outcomes. We summarize various commonly used prior distribution choices for the between-studies heterogeneity variance, a critical parameter in meta-analyses. They include the inverse-gamma, uniform, and half-normal distributions, as well as evidence-based informative log-normal priors. Five real-world examples are presented to illustrate their performance. We provide all of the statistical code for future use by practitioners. Under certain circumstances, Bayesian methods can produce markedly different results from those by frequentist methods, including a change in decision on statistical significance. When data information is limited, the choice of priors may have a large impact on meta-analytic results, in which case sensitivity analyses are recommended. Moreover, the algorithm for implementing Bayesian analyses may not converge for extremely sparse data; caution is needed in interpreting respective results. As such, convergence should be routinely examined. When select statistical assumptions that are made by conventional frequentist methods are violated, Bayesian methods provide a reliable alternative to perform a meta-analysis.
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