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Analysis
from Neogene Basins in Slovakia: Multivariate and GIS Approach
Data collection approach and sampling
design vary from study to study. Some authors used the approach of random
selection of certain number of individuals, e.g. 200-300 individuals in
a sample size. This approach could be very biased because the individual
and total density vary among samples. Moreover samples with a low total
density (e.g. < 50 individuals) are usually excluded from further analyses.
This approach may cause serious loss of information that can affect the
interpretation of the community pattern and thus paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
One way how to overclimb this problem is to use standardized sample sizes
according to weight or volume of sediment and stratified sampling design.
Primary objectives of the study is to compare standardized sample size
approach and stratified sampling design to traditional approach (200-300
randomly selected individ.) and to analyse differences in primary data
structure results (diversity, density, species versus volume curve, community
pattern) and interpretation of paleoenvironment. The second main purpose
is to illustrate and summarize advantages and disadvantages of both methods
with the special aim to purpose new unbiased approach. For these analyses
most of the samples are proposed from different type of paleoenvironment
from Neogene basins of Slovakia. Subsequently this approach enables more
precise interpretation of paleoenvironment and more detailed biostratigraphic
correlations. Paleoenvironmental
reconstructions and maps will be accomplished
using GIS.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90925©1999 AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid