Journal article 1299 views 111 downloads
The colour of environmental fluctuations associated with terrestrial animal population dynamics
David Gilljam,
Jonas Knape,
Andreas Lindén,
Marianne Mugabo,
Steven M. Sait,
Mike Fowler 
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Volume: 28, Issue: 2
Swansea University Authors:
David Gilljam, Mike Fowler
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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/geb.12824
Abstract
AIM:The temporal structure (colour) of environmental variation influences population fluctuations, extinction risk and community stability. However, it is unclear whether environmental covariates linked to population fluctuations are distinguishable from a purely random process (white noise). We aim...
| Published in: | Global Ecology and Biogeography |
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| ISSN: | 1466822X |
| Published: |
2018
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa41196 |
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| Abstract: |
AIM:The temporal structure (colour) of environmental variation influences population fluctuations, extinction risk and community stability. However, it is unclear whether environmental covariates linked to population fluctuations are distinguishable from a purely random process (white noise). We aim to estimate colour coefficients and relative support for three models commonly representing coloured stochastic processes, in environmental series linked to terrestrial animal population fluctuations. LOCATION:North-America and Eurasia.TIME PERIOD:1901-2002MAJOR TAXA STUDIED:Birds, insects and mammals.METHODS:We analysed multiple abiotic environmental covariates, comparing point estimates and confidence intervals of temporal structure in competing models fitted using white noise, autoregressive (AR[1]) and 1/f processes in the time-domain and frequency-domain (where time-series were analysed following decomposition into different sinusoidal frequencies and their relative powers). All animal time-series were sampled annually for ≤ 50 years, potentially inflating Type-II errors. We also considered 101-year series of matched environmental covariates, performing a statistical power analysis evaluating our ability to draw robust conclusions.RESULTS:Temperature-related variables were associated with the largest fraction of population fluctuations. 93% of shorter environmental series were indistinguishable from white noise, limited by time-series length and associated with wide confidence intervals. The longer environmental series analysed in the time-domain offered sufficiently high statistical power to correctly identify colour estimates ≥ |0.27|, indicating 20% of series were best described by a slightly reddened noise process.MAIN CONCLUSIONS:Focusing on the short time-scales typically available for ecologists, most environmental variables associated with terrestrial animal population fluctuations are best characterised by white noise processes, although Type-II errors are common. Correctly detecting intermediately coloured noise with power 0.8 requires at least 16 data points in the time or 47 points in the frequency-domain. Over longer time-scales, where Type-II errors are less likely, one-fifth of populations are associated with coloured (often reddened) variables. |
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| Item Description: |
Acknowledgements DG, MSF, MM and SMS were supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) grant NE/N002849/1 and NE/N00213X/1.Biosketch:DG is an ecologist with a background in computer engineering whose research focus lies on the effects of environmental variation and within and between species interactions on the dynamics, stability and functioning of ecological networks. MSF is interested in understanding how interactions among species and the environment shape the fluctuations we observe in population and community dynamics in ecosystems. |
| Keywords: |
spectral colour, environmental forcing, environmental variation, fluctuations, population dynamics, climate, time-series, frequency-domain, time-domain |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Issue: |
2 |