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Statistical and procedural issues in the use of heated taxidermic mounts

Bakken, G. S., Kenow, K. P., Korschgen, C. E., and Boysen, A. F., 2000, Statistical and procedural issues in the use of heated taxidermic mounts: Journal of Thermal Biology, v. 25, no. 4, p. 317-321.

Abstract

Studies using mounts have an inherently nested error structure; calibration and standardization should use the appropriate procedures and statistics. One example is that individual mount differences are nested within morphological factors related to species, age, or gender; without replication, mount differences may be confused with differences due to morphology. Also, the sensitivity of mounts to orientation to wind or sun is nested within mount; without replication, inadvertent variation in mount positioning may be confused with differences among mounts. Data on heat loss from a of 1-day-old mallard duckling mount are used to illustrate orientation sensitivity.

Keywords

heated mount, standard operative temperature, statistics, Anas platyrhynchos, standard operative temperature, ecological energetics, small animals, insulation, appraisal, tools