CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Environ Monit Assess. 2013 Sep;185(9):7231-43. doi: 10.1007/s10661-013-3097-3. Epub 2013 Jan 24.
Implementing a statistically valid and practical monitoring design for large-scale stream condition monitoring and assessment programs can be difficult due to factors including the likely existence of a diversity of ecosystem types such as ephemeral streams over the sampling domain; limited resources to undertake detailed monitoring surveys and address knowledge gaps; and operational constraints on effective sampling at monitoring sites. In statistical speak, these issues translate to defining appropriate target populations and sampling units; designing appropriate spatial and temporal sample site selection methods; selection and use of appropriate indicators; and setting effect sizes with limited ecological and statistical information about the indicators of interest. We identify the statistical and operational challenges in designing large-scale stream condition surveys and discuss general approaches for addressing them. The ultimate aim in drawing attention to these challenges is to ensure operational practicality in carrying out future monitoring programs and that the resulting inferences about stream condition are statistically valid and relevant.
由于采样域中可能存在多种生态系统类型（如短暂流）、资源有限无法进行详细监测调查和解决知识空白以及在监测点进行有效采样的操作限制等因素，为大规模溪流状况监测和评估计划实施具有统计学意义和实际意义的监测设计可能具有一定难度。从统计学角度来看，这些问题涉及到确定适当的目标群体和抽样单位；设计适当的空间和时间样本选择方法；选择和使用适当的指标；以及在关于感兴趣的指标的生态和统计信息有限的情况下设置效应量。我们确定了设计大规模溪流状况调查的统计和操作挑战，并讨论了解决这些挑战的一般方法。引起对这些挑战的关注的最终目的是确保在未来监测计划中具有可操作性，并确保关于溪流状况的推断在统计学上是有效和相关的。
