Interpreting Ecological Complexity - A Practical Guide to Avoid Becoming a Mistaken Scientist

This book illustrates how the choice of relevant data collection and data analysis techniques is critical for a sound and objective description of the complexity of space-time patterns and processes in ecology and the aquatic sciences. It reviews the concept of complexity in a general ecological context, before introducing a unifying definition of complexity in marine ecology. The book shows that convincing results can arise from very simple, sound, and well-thought-out approaches. The authors underline the risks related to modern techniques of data assimilation that can lead to data inundation, a loss of focus, and ultimately an erroneous scientific approach.

List of contents

Introduction: Ecological Complexity and the QDCAC vs. DQA Paradigms: Defining marine ecological complexity. The question-driven collection data analysis paradigm. The data-driven question analysis paradigm. Data Collection: Is There More to the Picture Than Meets the Eye? Assessing micro scale heterogeneity: the issue of chronic undersampling. Global, long-term monitoring programs. Data Analysis: There Is More to the Picture Than Meets the Eye! Misleading space-time analyses, or the QCDAC paradigm revisited. The (mis)behaviour of behavioural analyses. From space-time patterns to generating processes. Benthic indicators. Conclusion: How Much Is Too Much?

Summary

This book illustrates how the choice of relevant data collection and data analysis techniques is critical for a sound and objective description of the complexity of space-time patterns and processes in ecology and the aquatic sciences. It reviews the concept of complexity in a general ecological context, before introducing a unifying definition of complexity in marine ecology. The book shows that convincing results can arise from very simple, sound, and well-thought-out approaches. The authors underline the risks related to modern techniques of data assimilation that can lead to data inundation, a loss of focus, and ultimately an erroneous scientific approach.

Product details

• Authors: Laurent Seuront, Laurent (Centre National De La Recherche Seuront, Laurent (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Seuront, Laurent Spilmont Seuront, Seuront Laurent, Nicolas Spilmont, Nicolas (Universite du Littoral Cote d'Opale Spilmont, Spilmont Nicolas
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 31.01.2021, delayed
• EAN: 9781439893715
• ISBN: 978-1-4398-9371-5
• No. of pages: 352
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Ecology; SCIENCE / Life Sciences / General, NATURE / Ecology, MATHEMATICS / Probability & Statistics / General, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Marine Biology, Biodiversity, Social impact of environmental issues, Ecological science, the Biosphere, Probability and statistics, Marine Biology