Distinguishing within- from between-individual effects: How to use the within-individual centring method for quadratic patterns.

ABSTRACT: Any average pattern observed at the population level (cross-sectional analysis) may confound two different types of processes: some processes that occur among individuals and others that occur within individuals. Separating within- from among-individual processes is critical for our understanding of ecological and evolutionary dynamics. The within-individual centring method allows distinguishing within- from among-individual processes and this method has been widely used in ecology to investigate both linear and quadratic patterns. Here we show that two alternative equations could be used for the investigation of quadratic within-individual patterns. We explain the different assumptions and constraints of both equations. Reviewing the literature, we found that mainly one of these two equat

SUBMITTER: Fay R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9298145 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature