Experimental Design in Marine Ecology

Abstract

Ecological phenomena are usually complex because of natural variability in space and time, which in turn often makes the interpretation of results from field surveys difficult. To compensate for survey weakness, field/laboratory experiments are often applied to marine ecological studies. Well-designed experiments can discern between each ecological process, and consequently help to understand ecological mechanisms. This section describes practical examples of field/laboratory experimental methods, including those studying predation impacts, consumption rates, behavioral tactics, and symbiotic interactions.