PPT Slide

Spatial statistical analysis is appropriate for studies in which one suspects that an underlying spatial phenomenon or process is driving the “structure” of the data in question (Legendre and Fortin, Spatial Pattern and Ecological Analysis, 1989).

• When an ecological phenomenon located at a given sampling point appears to exhibit influence on the value of its neighbors, the independence assumption of classical inferential statistics is breached.

• Sample values are said to be dependent on one another and as a consequence, the potential exists that tests of correlation, regression, and analysis of variance will identify significant differences among groups where in reality none is present.

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