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| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Recurso digital |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Zenodo
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19555496 |
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Table of Contents:
- <p>Data can be collected and analyzed on either continuous or categorical scales, depending on the experimental design and the research question. When investigating relationships between organismal traits and ecological attributes, quantitative trait values are almost always used, with a few key exceptions (e.g., dominance rank). However, it is not always clear that the quantitative trait value is more meaningful than the relative value or rank. Here, we explore how alternate scaling can affect analyses and inferences when evaluating common biological questions regarding sources of variation, survival, and consistency through time. To do this, we conducted three parallel analyses using quantitative and ranked data from a capture-mark-recapture study with Trinidadian guppies, <em>Poecilia reticulata</em>. In most analyses interpretations were similar, but quantitative scales showed clearer relationships with survival. Notably, ordinal scales provided more nuanced interpretation when considering change through time. Our analysis revealed that, for certain biological questions, transformation into ordinal scales can be informative. This work is a starting point for further exploration of the benefits of ranked analyses. We suggest further investigation into the impact of ordinal rank on fitness for both specific phenotypic traits and whole-organism fitness.</p>