Description
weightedSeeds = interiorSeeds+edgeSeeds*edgeWeight; density = weightedSeeds/trapArea.
Ecological sampling summaries distinguish effort, weighted support, taxon counts and relative composition. A denominator-specific fraction or single-species contribution need not describe abundance, completeness or a whole-community index.
weightedSeeds = interiorSeeds+edgeSeeds*edgeWeight; density = weightedSeeds/trapArea.
When to use this tool
Use Seed Rain Trap Edge Adjustment when checking a supplied ecological effort, support or count convention.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter interiorSeeds, edgeSeeds, edgeWeight, trapArea. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read weightedSeeds, density. Use the output convention below.
Require nonnegative whole interiorSeeds and edgeSeeds, edgeWeight in [0,1] and positive trapArea. weightedSeeds = interiorSeeds+edgeSeeds*edgeWeight; density = weightedSeeds/trapArea.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| interiorSeeds | Interior Seeds | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| edgeSeeds | Edge Seeds | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| edgeWeight | Edge Weight | Required. Finite number; minimum 0; maximum 1. |
| trapArea | Trap Area | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| weightedSeeds | Weighted Seeds | Required. Finite number. |
| density | Density | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"interiorSeeds": 10,
"edgeSeeds": 4,
"edgeWeight": 0.5,
"trapArea": 2
},
"output": {
"weightedSeeds": 12,
"density": 6
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- The edge weight is a supplied counting convention and may produce fractional counts. Trap area is not reduced by edge weighting, and no sampling-bias correction is inferred.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use an appropriate sampling, detection and community-analysis method for inference beyond these local summaries.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Seedrain Density Trap Area Time Factor
areaDays = traps*trapArea*exposedDays*operationalFraction; densityPerAreaDay = seeds/areaDays.
- Plot Sampling Fraction Weight
eligibleArea is their difference; samplingFraction = sampledArea/eligibleArea; expansionWeight is its reciprocal.