Monitoring Lesquerella filiformis Rollins (Missouri bladderpod): Application and Evaluation of a Grid-based Survey Approach

Standardization and Quality Control in Data Collection and Assessment of Threatened Plant Species

“…The calculated population size interval is analogous to a 100% confidence interval. The width of the interval, for the bladderpod population sampled, is very similar to that of a 95% confidence interval calculated in the traditional fashion based on a simple random sample [26].…”

“…Thus, because all cells in the core area are included, there is no statistical uncertainty due to random sampling error. There is, however, uncertainty due to other sources: width of the density classes [26] and observer error [33]. Thus, the magnitude of any source of uncertainty should always be quantified and included in the data set.…”

“…Underestimates became more prevalent as density class increased. Because the errors represent a systematic bias, it is possible to employ a correction factor to the data [26]. Inherent differences were found to exist among observers, however, that could not be explained by experience or training.…”

“…Observer error is of a relatively large magnitude, and can be corrected for the overall population estimate, but not for individual cells. Spatial variation in the density of the bladderpods can be mapped across the glade at the resolution of the 5 × 5 m cells [26]. Limited demographic data have been collected in this population, including a two-year study evaluating winter survivorship [31].…”

Interdisciplinary Training in Mathematical Biology through Team-based Undergraduate Research and Courses

“…This appears to be working based on the remarkable productivity of the program. At last count, faculty and students have published eight papers in peer-reviewed journals ( Schwendemann et al , 2007 ; Beck et al , 2007 ; Buckner et al , 2007 ; Zhang et al , 2007 ; Ohtsu et al , 2007 ; Adams, 2008 ; Vollmer and Adams, 2008 ; Young et al , 2008 ;) with several others having been recently submitted; undergraduates have given 34 poster presentations and 41 oral presentations at regional, national, and international professional conferences; faculty have given presentations at nine national and international conferences; and three teams have secured additional external funding for projects that were piloted in our program.…”