MNI From Elements
Take maximum element-specific individual lower bounds from caller nonduplicated age/side/diagnostic strata; MNI depends on pooling and identified copies, not raw fragmented NISP.
Description
Minimum number of individuals depends on diagnostic elements and how many copies one individual can contribute.
Minimum number of individuals depends on diagnostic elements and how many copies one individual can contribute. Taking the largest element-specific lower bound avoids treating fragmented specimen counts as individuals.1
Take maximum element-specific individual lower bounds from caller nonduplicated age/side/diagnostic strata; MNI depends on pooling and identified copies, not raw fragmented NISP.
When to use MNI From Elements
Use this tool to take maximum element-specific individual lower bounds from caller nonduplicated age/side/diagnostic strata; MNI depends on pooling and identified copies, not raw fragmented NISP.
Prepare the artifact, site or survey measurements and any independently established calibration or model choices. Keep paired observations aligned and confirm units and coordinate conventions.
How to use MNI From Elements and understand its results
- Prepare the artifact, site or survey measurements and any independently established calibration or model choices. Keep paired observations aligned and confirm units and coordinate conventions.
- Enter diagnosticElementCounts, availableCopiesPerIndividual using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read elementIndividualLowerBounds, assemblageMinimumIndividuals. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| diagnosticElementCounts | Diagnostic element counts | list of number | Required |
| availableCopiesPerIndividual | Available copies per individual | list of number | Required |
Pair nonnegative integer diagnostic element counts with positive integer available copies per individual. Calculate rounded-up lower bounds for each element category and return their maximum. All-zero observed counts give a minimum of zero.
Paired lists must be nonempty and have equal lengths.
lowerBound_i = ceil(diagnosticCount_i/copiesPerIndividual_i); MNI = max lowerBound_i Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| elementIndividualLowerBounds | Element individual lower bounds | list of number |
| assemblageMinimumIndividuals | Assemblage minimum individuals | number |
{
"input": {
"diagnosticElementCounts": [
3,
5,
2
],
"availableCopiesPerIndividual": [
1,
2,
1
]
},
"output": {
"elementIndividualLowerBounds": [
3,
3,
2
],
"assemblageMinimumIndividuals": 3
}
}Limitations and assumptions
The caller must define nonduplicated age, side and diagnostic categories and a consistent assemblage pooling scope. Recovery and identification uncertainty are not modeled; these are lower bounds rather than actual population counts.
Numeric inputs must be finite. Follow the calculation-specific rules for overflow, underflow and exceptional cases. Numeric lists are limited to 100,000 entries; the rules above may require smaller limits. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use NISP Specimen Count By Taxa Tool: Tabulate one taxon assignment per observed specimen while retaining explicitly unassigned records; fragmentation and element counts do not convert NISP to individuals. For a complementary task, use Sherd Refit Conjoin Pair Count Tool: Deduplicate undirected observed sherd conjoins and summarize connected refit groups including isolates; linked groups do not establish complete vessel count, and no unseen joins are invented.
References
-
MNI From Elements — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- NISP Specimen Count By Taxa Tool
Tabulate one taxon assignment per observed specimen while retaining explicitly unassigned records; fragmentation and element counts do not convert NISP to individuals.
- Sherd Refit Conjoin Pair Count Tool
Deduplicate undirected observed sherd conjoins and summarize connected refit groups including isolates; linked groups do not establish complete vessel count, and no unseen joins are invented.