Analysis options for estimating status and trends in long-term monitoring
By: Jonathan Bart and Hawthorne L. Beyer
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Abstract
This chapter describes methods for estimating long-term trends in ecological parameters. Other chapters in this volume discuss more advanced methods for analyzing monitoring data, but these methods may be relatively inaccessible to some readers. Therefore, this chapter provides an introduction to trend analysis for managers and biologists while also discussing general issues relevant to trend assessment in any long-term monitoring program.
For simplicity, we focus on temporal trends in population size across years. We refer to the survey results for each year as the “annual means” (e.g. mean per transect, per plot, per time period). The methods apply with little or no modification, however, to formal estimates of population size, other temporal units (e.g. a month), to spatial or other dimensions such as elevation or a north–south gradient, and to other quantities such as chemical or geological parameters. The chapter primarily discusses methods for estimating population-wide parameters rather than studying variation in trend within the population, which can be examined using methods presented in other chapters (e.g. Chapters 7, 12, 20). We begin by reviewing key concepts related to trend analysis. We then describe how to evaluate potential bias in trend estimates. An overview of the statistical models used to quantify trends is then presented. We conclude by showing ways to estimate trends using simple methods that can be implemented with spreadsheets.
Suggested Citation
Bart, J., Beyer, H.L., 2012, Analysis options for estimating status and trends in long-term monitoring, chap. of Design and Analysis of Long-term Ecological Monitoring Studies, p. 253-278, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139022422.016.
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | Analysis options for estimating status and trends in long-term monitoring |
| ISBN | 9781139022422 |
| DOI | 10.1017/CBO9781139022422.016 |
| Year Published | 2012 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Publisher location | Cambridge, UK |
| Contributing office(s) | Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center |
| Description | 26 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Other Government Series |
| Larger Work Title | Design and Analysis of Long-term Ecological Monitoring Studies |
| First page | 253 |
| Last page | 278 |