Bennett K D
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.
New Phytol. 1996 Jan;132(1):155-170. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb04521.x.
Current methods for numerical zonation of biostratigraphic sequences neither assess the reliability of zones identified nor provide any means of determining the number of zones that are 'significant' (based on structure in the data set, rather than the stochastic element). These problems can be overcome by using the broken-stick model to assess the significance of zones against a model of random distribution of zones within a sequence. The broken-stick model is described and its application demonstrated on actual data sets. Additionally, simulation modelling is used to assess the uncertainty of the location of individual zone markers, given the errors of the original data. These widely-applicable methods make it possible to identify zones rigorously and consistently. The potential in biostratigraphy and correlation includes the recognition, correlation and subdivision of chronostratipraphic units in long Quaternary sequences.
目前生物地层序列数值分区的方法既不评估所确定区域的可靠性，也不提供任何确定“重要”区域数量的手段（基于数据集中的结构，而非随机因素）。通过使用折断棍棒模型，对照序列内区域随机分布的模型来评估区域的重要性，可以克服这些问题。文中描述了折断棍棒模型，并展示了其在实际数据集上的应用。此外，考虑到原始数据的误差，使用模拟建模来评估各个区域标记位置的不确定性。这些广泛适用的方法使得严格且一致地识别区域成为可能。生物地层学和对比中的潜力包括识别、对比和细分长第四纪序列中的年代地层单位。
