Journal article
Pseudoreplication in tropical forests and the resulting effects on biodiversity conservation
Conservation Biology, Vol.27(2), pp.364-372
2013
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Source: InCites
Abstract
<p>Tropical forest ecosystems are threatened by habitat conversion and other anthropogenic actions. Timber production forests can augment the conservation value of primary forest reserves, but studies of logging effects often yield contradictory findings and thus inhibit efforts to develop clear conservation strategies. We hypothesized that much of this variability reflects a common methodological flaw, simple pseudoreplication, that confounds logging effects with preexisting spatial variation. We reviewed recent studies of the effects of logging on biodiversity in tropical forests (<em>n</em> = 77) and found that 68% were definitively pseudoreplicated while only 7% were definitively free of pseudoreplication. The remaining proportion could not be clearly categorized. In addition, we collected compositional data on 7 taxa in 24 primary forest research plots and systematically analyzed subsets of these plots to calculate the probability that a pseudoreplicated comparison would incorrectly identify a treatment effect. Rates of false inference (i.e., the spurious detection of a treatment effect) were >0.5 for 2 taxa, 0.3–0.5 for 2 taxa, and <0.3 for 3 taxa. Our findings demonstrate that tropical conservation strategies are being informed by a body of literature that is rife with unwarranted inferences. Addressing pseudoreplication is essential for accurately assessing biodiversity in logged forests, identifying the relative merits of specific management practices and landscape configurations, and effectively balancing conservation with timber production in tropical forests.</p>
Details
- Title
- Pseudoreplication in tropical forests and the resulting effects on biodiversity conservation
- Creators
- Benjamin S Ramage - University of California - BerkeleyDouglas Sheil - Southern Cross UniversityHannah MW Salim - University of California - BerkeleyChristine Fletcher - Forest Research Institute MalaysiaNur-Zatia Mustafa - Forest Research Institute MalaysiaJoann C Luruthusamay - Forest Research Institute MalaysiaRhett D Harrison - Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenElizabeth Butod - Forest Research Institute MalaysiaAhmad Dzamir Dzulkiply - Forest Research Institute MalaysiaAbd Rahman Kassim - Forest Research Institute MalaysiaMatthew D Potts - University of California - Berkeley
- Publication Details
- Conservation Biology, Vol.27(2), pp.364-372
- Identifiers
- 2883; 991012820548002368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Forest Research Centre
- Resource Type
- Journal article