Evaluation of variance approximation techniques for non-linear photosynthesis-irradiance models

• Published in: Marine biology 1987-07, Vol.95 (2), p.209-215
• Main Authors: ZIMMERMAN, R. C, BEELER SOOHOO, J, KREMER, J. N, D'ARGENIO, D. Z
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Plants and fungi
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00409007

Parameters derived from photosynthesis-irradiance (P-I) models, although often empirical in nature, are useful indicators of the photoadaptive state of phytoplankton in culture and in situ. However, objective criteria for determining significant changes in P-I curves are rarely provided, because confidence intervals for parameters of non-linear models are not estimated easily. Examination of least-squares residuals in parameter space and Monte Carlo approaches have been used to estimate confidence regions around parameter values, but the computationally intensive nature of these methods has prevented their routine application. The authors present an alternative method of estimating confidence intervals for parameters of P-I curves that runs quickly on a microcomputer and is easily combined with common parameter-estimation routines.