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Contrasting Diversity Values: Statistical Inferences Based on Overlapping Confidence Intervals

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  • Ian MacGregor-Fors
  • Mark E Payton

Abstract

Ecologists often contrast diversity (species richness and abundances) using tests for comparing means or indices. However, many popular software applications do not support performing standard inferential statistics for estimates of species richness and/or density. In this study we simulated the behavior of asymmetric log-normal confidence intervals and determined an interval level that mimics statistical tests with P(α) = 0.05 when confidence intervals from two distributions do not overlap. Our results show that 84% confidence intervals robustly mimic 0.05 statistical tests for asymmetric confidence intervals, as has been demonstrated for symmetric ones in the past. Finally, we provide detailed user-guides for calculating 84% confidence intervals in two of the most robust and highly-used freeware related to diversity measurements for wildlife (i.e., EstimateS, Distance).

Suggested Citation

  • Ian MacGregor-Fors & Mark E Payton, 2013. "Contrasting Diversity Values: Statistical Inferences Based on Overlapping Confidence Intervals," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(2), pages 1-4, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0056794
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056794
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    3. Marta Pittavino & Bruno Arpino & Elena Pirani, 2024. "Kinlessness at older ages: Prevalence and heterogeneity in 27 countries," Econometrics Working Papers Archive 2024_02, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Statistica, Informatica, Applicazioni "G. Parenti".
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    7. Tom Tregenza & Petri T Niemelä & Rolando Rodríguez-Muñoz & Paul E Hopwood, 2022. "Environment and mate attractiveness in a wild insect [Female pied flycatchers choose territory quality and not male characteristics]," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 33(5), pages 999-1006.
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    9. Daoust, Jean-François & Bélanger, Éric & Dassonneville, Ruth & Lachapelle, Erick & Nadeau, Richard & Becher, Michael & Brouard, Sylvain & Foucault, Martial & Hönnige, Christoph & Stegmueller, Daniel, 2020. "Face-Saving Strategies Increase Self-Reported Non-Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Measures: Experimental Evidence from 12 Countries," SocArXiv tkrs7, Center for Open Science.
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    12. Sharan Grewal & Matthew D. Cebul, 2023. "Can Religious Reinterpretations Bridge the Secular-Religious Divide? Experimental Evidence from Tunisia," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 67(2-3), pages 428-456, February.

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