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The importance of sample size in marine megafauna tagging studies

The importance of sample size in marine megafauna tagging studies
The importance of sample size in marine megafauna tagging studies
Telemetry is a key, widely used tool to understand marine megafauna distribution, habitat use, behavior, and physiology; however, a critical question remains: “How many animals should be tracked to acquire meaningful data sets?” This question has wide‐ranging implications including considerations of statistical power, animal ethics, logistics, and cost. While power analyses can inform sample sizes needed for statistical significance, they require some initial data inputs that are often unavailable. To inform the planning of telemetry and biologging studies of marine megafauna where few or no data are available or where resources are limited, we reviewed the types of information that have been obtained in previously published studies using different sample sizes. We considered sample sizes from one to >100 individuals and synthesized empirical findings, detailing the information that can be gathered with increasing sample sizes. We complement this review with simulations, using real data, to show the impact of sample size when trying to address various research questions in movement ecology of marine megafauna. We also highlight the value of collaborative, synthetic studies to enhance sample sizes and broaden the range, scale, and scope of questions that can be answered.
1051-0761
Sequeira, A. M. M.
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Heupel, M. R.
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Lea, M.‐A.
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Eguíluz, V. M.
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Duarte, C. M.
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Meekan, M. G.
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Thums, M.
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Calich, H. J.
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Carmichael, R. H.
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Costa, D. P.
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Ferreira, L. C.
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Fernandéz‐gracia, J.
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Harcourt, R.
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Harrison, A.‐l.
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Jonsen, I.
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Mcmahon, C. R.
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Sims, D. W.
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Wilson, R. P.
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Hays, G. C.
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Sequeira, A. M. M.
2876358f-5def-413e-98ac-6ecd4eda6652
Heupel, M. R.
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Lea, M.‐A.
f0216828-a37b-4ae0-8e6b-15910be56dc5
Eguíluz, V. M.
b3d2a2e7-3296-4a48-979c-aaabb1aa1617
Duarte, C. M.
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Meekan, M. G.
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Thums, M.
94e860cd-cb62-4665-8b67-4009620f8dc0
Calich, H. J.
5ed94ace-f9a1-4081-b79e-c762ffe19d36
Carmichael, R. H.
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Costa, D. P.
a524012f-d6d4-4437-a8dc-6ad7455a7a42
Ferreira, L. C.
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Fernandéz‐gracia, J.
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Harcourt, R.
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Harrison, A.‐l.
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Jonsen, I.
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Mcmahon, C. R.
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Sims, D. W.
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Wilson, R. P.
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Hays, G. C.
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Sequeira, A. M. M., Heupel, M. R., Lea, M.‐A., Eguíluz, V. M., Duarte, C. M., Meekan, M. G., Thums, M., Calich, H. J., Carmichael, R. H., Costa, D. P., Ferreira, L. C., Fernandéz‐gracia, J., Harcourt, R., Harrison, A.‐l., Jonsen, I., Mcmahon, C. R., Sims, D. W., Wilson, R. P. and Hays, G. C. (2019) The importance of sample size in marine megafauna tagging studies. Ecological Applications, 29 (6), [e01947]. (doi:10.1002/eap.1947).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Telemetry is a key, widely used tool to understand marine megafauna distribution, habitat use, behavior, and physiology; however, a critical question remains: “How many animals should be tracked to acquire meaningful data sets?” This question has wide‐ranging implications including considerations of statistical power, animal ethics, logistics, and cost. While power analyses can inform sample sizes needed for statistical significance, they require some initial data inputs that are often unavailable. To inform the planning of telemetry and biologging studies of marine megafauna where few or no data are available or where resources are limited, we reviewed the types of information that have been obtained in previously published studies using different sample sizes. We considered sample sizes from one to >100 individuals and synthesized empirical findings, detailing the information that can be gathered with increasing sample sizes. We complement this review with simulations, using real data, to show the impact of sample size when trying to address various research questions in movement ecology of marine megafauna. We also highlight the value of collaborative, synthetic studies to enhance sample sizes and broaden the range, scale, and scope of questions that can be answered.

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Sequeira_etal_SampleSizeMegafaunaTagging_EcolApplic2019 - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 17 April 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 10 June 2019
Published date: September 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 434081
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/434081
ISSN: 1051-0761
PURE UUID: 85136a50-f205-4f86-b70f-8e5e8e1e8e62
ORCID for D. W. Sims: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0916-7363
ORCID for R. P. Wilson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7352-8912

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Sep 2019 16:30
Last modified: 19 Jun 2024 01:45

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Contributors

Author: A. M. M. Sequeira
Author: M. R. Heupel
Author: M.‐A. Lea
Author: V. M. Eguíluz
Author: C. M. Duarte
Author: M. G. Meekan
Author: M. Thums
Author: H. J. Calich
Author: R. H. Carmichael
Author: D. P. Costa
Author: L. C. Ferreira
Author: J. Fernandéz‐gracia
Author: R. Harcourt
Author: A.‐l. Harrison
Author: I. Jonsen
Author: C. R. Mcmahon
Author: D. W. Sims ORCID iD
Author: R. P. Wilson ORCID iD
Author: G. C. Hays

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