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Adequate statistical modelling and data selection are essential when analysing abundance and diversity trends

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 5, pages 592–594 (2021)Cite this article

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Matters Arising to this article was published on 05 April 2021

The Original Article was published on 10 August 2020

arising from M. S. Crossley et al. Nature Ecology & Evolution https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1269-4 (2020).

In an analysis of a large number of time series on arthropod abundances in natural and managed areas of the United States, Crossley et al. reported no evidence of an overall decline in insect abundance and diversity1. We identified major concerns in the statistical analysis and inconsistencies in the selection of data, which, we argue, invalidate their conclusions. We call for a rigorous methodology in analyses of biodiversity trends because relevant information is crucial for stakeholders and policymakers.

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Fig. 1: Modelling steps in Crossley et al.1 and arising problems.

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Acknowledgements

D. McKey and E. Jousselin (University of Montpellier) made suggestions to improve the paper. This work was publicly funded by the French National Research Agency (grants ANR-17-EURE-0010 to M. D. and ANR-16-IDEX-0006 to L.G. under the Investissements d’avenir programme, and grant ANR-15-CE21-0006 to M.D.).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Marion Desquilbet, Pierre-André Cornillon.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toulouse School of Economics, INRAE, University of Toulouse Capitole, Toulouse, France

    Marion Desquilbet

  2. Université de Rennes, CNRS, IRMAR - UMR 6625, Rennes, France

    Pierre-André Cornillon

  3. AMAP, University of Montpellier, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier, France

    Laurence Gaume

  4. Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, Orléans, France

    Jean-Marc Bonmatin

Authors
  1. Marion Desquilbet
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  2. Pierre-André Cornillon
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  3. Laurence Gaume
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  4. Jean-Marc Bonmatin
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Contributions

M.D. and P.-A.C. performed both the detailed and overall analysis of the article and wrote the original draft. P.-A.C. examined and reprogrammed the R code. L.G. contributed to the argumentation and extensively edited the manuscript. J.-M.B. contributed to the analysis of data selection in the article. All authors contributed to the general comment and reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marion Desquilbet.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Peer review information Nature Ecology & Evolution thanks Nick Isaac and James Bell for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Desquilbet, M., Cornillon, PA., Gaume, L. et al. Adequate statistical modelling and data selection are essential when analysing abundance and diversity trends. Nat Ecol Evol 5, 592–594 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01427-x

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