ORCID Profile
0000-0001-9406-0693
Current Organisation
University of Southampton
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41591-021-01645-7
Abstract: Human pluripotent stem-cell-derived islets (hPSC-islets) are a promising cell resource for diabetes treatment
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-03-2022
DOI: 10.1111/ACV.12772
Abstract: Understanding species‐environment relationships at large spatial scales is required for the prioritization of conservation areas and the preservation of landscape connectivity for large carnivores. This endeavour is challenging for jaguars ( Panthera onca) , given their elusiveness, and the local nature of most jaguar studies, precluding extrapolation to larger areas. We developed an occupancy model using occurrence data of jaguars across five countries of Central America, collected from camera‐trap studies of 2–12 months' duration, deployed over an area of 14 112 km 2 from 2005 to 2018. Our occupancy model showed that habitat use of jaguars increased with primary net productivity and distance to human settlements, and distance to rivers. Detection of the species was related to survey effort and research team identity. Within the jaguar extent of occurrence, 73% was deemed suitable for the species, with 47% of it lying within Jaguar Conservation Units (JCU) and 59% of JCU land being legally protected. Suitable areas were ided into four distinct clusters of continuous habitat shared across country borders. However, large areas of predicted low habitat suitability may constrict connectivity in the region. The reliability of these spatial predictions is indicated by the model validation using an independent dataset (AUC = 0.82 sensitivity = 0.766, specificity = 0.761), and concordance of our results with other studies conducted in the region. Across Central America, we found that human influence has the strongest impact on jaguar habitat use and JCUs are the main reservoirs of habitat. Therefore, conservation actions must focus on preventing habitat loss and mitigating human pressure, particularly within the clusters of continuous areas of high suitability, and on restoring habitat to foster connectivity. The long‐term persistence of jaguars in the region will depend on strong international cooperation that secures jaguar populations and their habitat across Central American borders.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-1984
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-11-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41559-022-01891-Z
Abstract: Synthesis of primary ecological data is often assumed to achieve a notion of 'generality', through the quantification of overall effect sizes and consistency among studies, and has become a dominant research approach in ecology. Unfortunately, ecologists rarely define either the generality of their findings, their estimand (the target of estimation) or the population of interest. Given that generality is fundamental to science, and the urgent need for scientific understanding to curb global scale ecological breakdown, loose usage of the term 'generality' is problematic. In other disciplines, generality is defined as comprising both generalizability-extending an inference about an estimand from the s le to the population-and transferability-the validity of estimand predictions in a different s ling unit or population. We review current practice in ecological synthesis and demonstrate that, when researchers fail to define the assumptions underpinning generalizations and transfers of effect sizes, generality often misses its target. We provide guidance for communicating nuanced inferences and maximizing the impact of syntheses both within and beyond academia. We propose pathways to generality applicable to ecological syntheses, including the development of quantitative and qualitative criteria with which to license the transfer of estimands from both primary and synthetic studies.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-03-2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-01-2023
Publisher: Microbiology Society
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1099/JMM.0.001046
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2023
DOI: 10.1111/BRV.12939
Abstract: Ecologists routinely use statistical models to detect and explain interactions among ecological drivers, with a goal to evaluate whether an effect of interest changes in sign or magnitude in different contexts. Two fundamental properties of interactions are often overlooked during the process of hypothesising, visualising and interpreting interactions between drivers: the measurement scale – whether a response is analysed on an additive or multiplicative scale, such as a ratio or logarithmic scale and the symmetry – whether dependencies are considered in both directions. Overlooking these properties can lead to one or more of three inferential errors: misinterpretation of ( i ) the detection and magnitude (Type‐D error), and ( ii ) the sign of effect modification (Type‐S error) and ( iii ) misidentification of the underlying processes (Type‐A error). We illustrate each of these errors with a broad range of ecological questions applied to empirical and simulated data sets. We demonstrate how meta‐analysis, a widely used approach that seeks explicitly to characterise context dependence, is especially prone to all three errors. Based on these insights, we propose guidelines to improve hypothesis generation, testing, visualisation and interpretation of interactions in ecology.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 14-06-2022
Abstract: The inherent complexity and multi-causality of nature makes attempts to gain understanding and guidance about critical issues including rates of bio ersity loss, or the effectiveness of actions such as tree planting, wickedly difficult and often subject to poorly-substantiated assertions about their generality. Synthesis of primary ecological data is often assumed to achieve a notion of ‘generality’, through the quantification of overall effect sizes and consistency among studies, and has become a dominant research approach in ecology. Assertions about generality should raise the question: what exactly is generality? Ecologists rarely define either the generality of their findings, their estimand (what is estimated, based on the question of interest) or population of interest. Given that generality is fundamental to the philosophy of science, and the urgent need for scientific understanding and applied conservation actions to curb ecological breakdown, the loose use of the term ‘generality’ is problematic. In other disciplines generality is defined as comprising both generalisability: extending an inference about an estimand from the s le to the population, and transferability: the validity of estimand predictions in a different s ling unit or population. We review current practice in ecological synthesis, and demonstrate that by failing to define the assumptions that underpin generalisations and transfers of effect sizes, generality often misses its target. We then provide guidance for communicating nuanced inferences, and maximising the impact of syntheses both within and beyond academia. We finally propose pathways to generality applicable to ecological syntheses, which includes development of quantitative and qualitative criteria with which to license the transfer of estimands from both primary and synthetic studies.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for C. Patrick Doncaster.