Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Numbats and aardwolves—how low is low? A re-affirmation of the need for statistical rigour in evaluating regression predictions

    147125_147125.pdf (393.5Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Cooper, Christine
    Withers, P.
    Date
    2006
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Cooper C.E. and Withers P.C. (2006) Numbats and aardwolves – how low is low? A re-affirmation of the need for statistical rigour in evaluating regression predictions. Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 176 (7): 623-629.
    DOI
    10.1007/s00360-006-0085-8
    Faculty
    School of Agriculture and Environment
    Faculty of Science and Engineering
    Department of Environmental Biology
    Remarks

    Email: c.cooper@curtin.edu.au

    The original publication is available at: http://www.springerlink.com

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34642
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Many comparative physiological studies aim to determine if a particular species differs from a prediction based on a linear allometric regression for other species. However, the judgment as to whether the species in question conforms to this allometric relationship is often not based on any formal statistical analysis. An appropriate statistical method is to compare the new species’ value with the 95% confidence limits for predicting an additional datum from the relationship for the other species. We examine the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the termitivorous numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) and aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) to demonstrate the use of the 95% prediction limits to determine statistically if they have a lower-than-expected BMR compared to related species. The numbat’s BMR was 83.6% of expected from mass, but fell inside the 95% prediction limits for a further datum; a BMR < 72.5% of predicted was required to fall below the one-tail 95% prediction limits. The aardwolf had a BMR that was only 74.2% of predicted from the allometric equation, but it also fell well within the 95% prediction limits; a BMR of only 41.8% of predicted was necessary to fall below the one-tail 95% prediction limits. We conclude that a formal statistical approach is essential, although it is difficult to demonstrate that a single species statistically differs from a regression relationship for other species.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Application of advanced techniques for the remote detection, modelling and spatial analysis of mesquite (prosopis spp.) invasion in Western Australia
      Robinson, Todd Peter (2008)
      Invasive plants pose serious threats to economic, social and environmental interests throughout the world. Developing strategies for their management requires a range of information that is often impractical to collect ...
    • Diatom communities in lakes and streams of varying salinity from south-west Western Australia : distribution and predictability
      Taukulis, Fiona E (2007)
      The distribution pattern of diatoms from lakes and streams of varying salinity in the south-west of Western Australia was investigated. A total of 95 water bodies were sampled and separated into freshwater (<3 ppt), ...
    • Oil mallee plantings and arthropod biodiversity in the Western Australian wheatbelt : effects of host species, nutrition, and leaf chemistry
      Lyons, Anita Marie (2008)
      Since European settlement, around 93% of the Western Australian wheatbelt has been cleared for agriculture, leading to a range of environmental problems, including erosion, salinity, and loss of biodiversity. Recently, ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.