A measure of spatial stratified heterogeneity. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jin-Feng; Zhang, Tong-Lin; Fu, Bo-Jie
• Is Part Of: Ecological indicators. Volume 67(2016)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 256
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Spatial stratified heterogeneity -- q-Statistic -- Probability density function; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environmental impact analysis -- Periodicals; Environmental risk assessment -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 333.71405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.02.052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-160X

Abstract

Abstract: Spatial stratified heterogeneity, referring to the within-strata variance less than the between strata-variance, is ubiquitous in ecological phenomena, such as ecological zones and many ecological variables. Spatial stratified heterogeneity reflects the essence of nature, implies potential distinct mechanisms by strata, suggests possible determinants of the observed process, allows the representativeness of observations of the earth, and enforces the applicability of statistical inferences. In this paper, we propose a q -statistic method to measure the degree of spatial stratified heterogeneity and to test its significance. The q value is within [0, 1] (0 if a spatial stratification of heterogeneity is not significant, and 1 if there is a perfect spatial stratification of heterogeneity). The exact probability density function is derived. The q -statistic is illustrated by two examples, wherein we assess the spatial stratified heterogeneities of a hand map and the distribution of the annual NDVI in China.