Use of power analysis to develop detectable significance criteria for sea urchin toxicity tests

Authors

  • R.S. Carr USGS, Biological Resources Division, Marine Ecotoxicology Research Station, TAMU-CC, Center for Coastal Studies, NRC Suite 3200, 6300 Ocean Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
  • J.M. Biedenbach USGS, Biological Resources Division, Marine Ecotoxicology Research Station, TAMU-CC, Center for Coastal Studies, NRC Suite 3200, 6300 Ocean Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA

Keywords:

Arbacia punctulata, Porewater toxicity, Minimum significant difference (MSD)

Abstract

When sufficient data are available, the statistical power of a test can be determined using power analysis procedures. The term “detectable significance” has been coined to refer to this criterion based on power analysis and past performance of a test. This power analysis procedure has been performed with sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata) fertilization and embryological development data from sediment porewater toxicity tests. Data from 3100 and 2295 tests for the fertilization and embryological development tests, respectively, were used to calculate the criteria and regression equations describing the power curves. Using Dunnett's test, a minimum significant difference (MSD) (β = 0.05) of 15.5% and 19% for the fertilization test, and 16.4% and 20.6% for the embryological development test, for α ≤ 0.05 and α ≤ 0.01, respectively, were determined. The use of this second criterion reduces type I (false positive) errors and helps to establish a critical level of difference based on the past performance of the test.

References

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Published

1999-01-01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 4 (1999): Sediment Quality Assessment: Tools, Criteria and Strategies

Section

Research article

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