Predator control needs a standard of unbiased randomized experiments with cross-over design

Adrian Treves (Author), Miha Krofel (Author), Omar Ohrens (Author), Lily M. van Eeden (Author)

Abstract

Rapid, global changes, such as extinction and climate change, put a premium on evidence-based, environmental policies and interventions, including predator control efforts. Lack of solid scientific evidence precludes strong inference about responses of predators, people, and prey of both, to various types of predator control. Here we formulate two opposing hypotheses with possible underlying mechanisms and propose experiments to test four pairs of opposed predictions about responses of predators, domestic animals, and people in a coupled, dynamic system. We outline the design of a platinum-standard experiment, namely randomized, controlled experiment with cross-over design and multiple steps to blind measurement, analysis, and peer review to avoid pervasive biases. The gold-standard has been proven feasible in field experiments with predators and livestock, so we call for replicating that across the world on different methods of predator control, in addition to striving for an even higher standard that can improve reproducibility and reliability of the science of predator control.

Keywords

učinkovita intervencija;škode zaradi divjadi;zanesljivo sklepanje;standardi dokazovanja;nadzor plenilcev;kontrolni poskusi;effective intervention;wildlife damage;strong inference;Standards of evidence;Predator control;experiments;Randomized controlled trials;RCT;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2019
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL BF - Biotechnical Faculty
UDC:	630*
COBISS:	5568934
ISSN:	2296-701X
Views:	437
Downloads:	150
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	učinkovita intervencija;škode zaradi divjadi;zanesljivo sklepanje;standardi dokazovanja;nadzor plenilcev;kontrolni poskusi;
Pages:	14 str.
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ7
Issue:	ǂarticle ǂ462
Chronology:	2019
DOI:	10.3389/fevo.2019.00462
ID:	11411910