Quartile coefficient of variation is more robust than CV for traits calculated as a ratio.

ABSTRACT: Comparing within-species variations of traits can be used in testing ecological theories. In these comparisons, it is useful to remove the effect of the difference in mean trait values, therefore measures of relative variation, most often the coefficient of variation (CV), are used. The studied traits are often calculated as the ratio of the size or mass of two organs: e.g. specific leaf area (SLA) is the ratio of leaf size and leaf mass. Often the inverse of these ratios is also meaningful; for example, the inverse of SLA is often referred to as LMA (leaf mass per area). Relative variation of a trait and its inverse should not considerably differ. However, it is illustrated that using the coefficient of variation may result in differences that could influence the interpretation, especiall

SUBMITTER: Botta-Dukat Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10033673 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature