Inadequate Sampling Rates Can Undermine the Reliability of Ecological Interaction Estimation

Author(s)

Cabella, Brenno ^[1] ; Meloni, Fernando ^[2] ; Martinez, Alexandre S. ^{[2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Fis Teor, UNESP, Rua Dr Bento Teobaldo Ferraz 271, BR-01140070 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, FFCLRP, Ave Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] INCT SC, Rua Dr Xavier Sigaud 150, BR-22290180 Urca, RJ - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL APPLICATIONS; v. 24, n. 2 JUN 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Cycles in population dynamics are abundant in nature and are understood as emerging from the interaction among coupled species. When sampling is conducted at a slow rate compared to the population cycle period (aliasing effect), one is prone to misinterpretations. However, aliasing has been poorly addressed in coupled population dynamics. To illustrate the aliasing effect, the Lotka-Volterra model oscillatory regime is numerically sampled, creating prey-predator cycles. We show that inadequate sampling rates may produce inversions in the cause-effect relationship among other artifacts. More generally, slow acquisition rates may distort data interpretation and produce deceptive patterns and eventually leading to misinterpretations, as predators becoming preys. Experiments in coupled population dynamics should be designed that address the eventual aliasing effect. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/06196-4 - Study of edaphic and epigeic communities as self-organized complex systems
• Grantee: Fernando Meloni
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral