title: A simple parametric method for reducing sample sizes in gut passage time trials.
abstract: Seed dispersal is now regularly analyzed using spatially explicit models, relying in part on frugivore gut passage times to produce model outputs. In determining species-specific gut passage times, there is a trade-off in sample size between minimizing collection effort and maintaining statistical reliability. Here we demonstrate that a two-parameter lognormal parametric distribution reliably fits empirical gut passage time distributions and is easily parameterized using relatively small data sets of approximately 30 defecations. We suggest this approach as a statistically reliable substitute for larger empirical gut passage data sets in seed dispersal modeling, and also as a way of using published gut passage data sets to parameterize new models.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, P.O. Box 789, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rawsthorne
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Roshier
authors.forename: Sean R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D014784:Mistletoe / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012639:Seeds