Ecological Archives E082-035-A1

David J. Augustine and Douglas A. Frank. 2001. Effects of migratory grazers on spatial heterogeneity of soil nitrogen properties in a grassland ecosystem. Ecology 82:3149-3162.

Appendix A. Residual mean squared error (RMSE) and tests of statistical significance for models fitted to

semivariograms of total soil N, N-mineralization potential, and total plant N measured in grazed and

ungrazed grassland at three sites in Yellowstone National Park.  For all sites, we report results for random,

linear, and spherical models.  In addition, if a higher order polynomial model resulted in a statistically

siginificant model fit both for the overall test of model significance (P < 0.05) and for each of the

parameter coefficients included in the model (P < 0.05 for each coefficient), then results are presented

for this model. RMSE for the selected model at each site is shown in bold. 

     

Total Soil Nitrogen

 

N-mineralization Potential

     

%

 

mg/g dry soil/10 days

Site

Treatment

  Model

RMSE

df

P > F

 

RMSE

df

P > F

4 x 4 m grids:

               

Lamar

Ungrazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0370

10

   

0.0270

10

 
   

Linear

0.0143

9

0.003

 

0.0238

9

0.162

   

Spherical

0.0057

8

   

0.0129

8

 
   

4th order Polynomial

       

0.0087

6

0.025

                   

Lamar

Grazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0402

10

   

0.0431

10

 
   

Linear

0.0285

9

0.051

 

0.0394

9

0.198

   

Spherical

0.0474

8

   

0.0529

8

 
   

3rd Order Polynomial

0.0111

7

0.007

 

0.0059

7

0.006

                   

Blacktail

Ungrazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0834

10

   

0.0185

10

 
   

Linear

0.0491

9

0.020

 

0.0167

9

0.183

   

Spherical

0.0609

8

   

0.0193

8

 
   

4th order Polynomial

0.0237

6

0.017

 

0.0030

6

0.003

                   

Blacktail

Grazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0127

10

   

0.0462

10

 
   

Linear

0.0141

9

0.995

 

0.0312

9

0.039

   

Spherical

0.0125

8

   

0.0578

8

 
   

2nd Order Polynomial

0.0057

8

0.017

       
                   

Stevens Creek

Ungrazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0323

10

   

0.1054

10

 
   

Linear

0.0298

9

0.208

 

0.1153

9

0.718

   

Spherical

0.0254

8

   

0.1110

8

 
   

4th order Polynomial

0.0083

6

0.013

 

0.0245

7

0.019

                   
 

Grazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0315

10

   

0.0176

10

 
   

Linear

0.0151

9

0.007

 

0.0032

9

0.0001

   

Spherical

0.0180

8

   

0.0210

8

 
   

4th order Polynomial

0.0122

6

0.042

       

Blacktail: 60 X 30 m grid

             
 

Ungrazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0598

5

   

0.1405

5

 
   

Linear

0.0578

4

0.309

 

0.1453

4

0.458

   

Spherical

0.0737

3

   

0.0272

3

0.003

                   
 

Grazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.1108

5

   

0.1070

5

 
   

Linear

0.0294

4

0.001

 

0.0354

4

0.003

   

Spherical

0.1259

3

   

0.0450

3

 
   

Exponential

       

0.0185

3

 
                   
     

Extractable Mineral

 

Total Plant Nitrogen

     

Nitrogen  (mg/g dry soil/10 days)

 

g/m2

Site

Treatment

  Model

RMSE

df

P > F

 

RMSE

df

P > F

4 x 4 m grids:

               

Lamar

Ungrazed

Mean Fit

0.1337

10

   

0.14657

10

 
   

Linear

0.1560

9

0.677

 

0.1467

9

0.350

   

Spherical

0.1471

8

   

0.13647

8

 
                   
                   

Lamar

Grazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.2372

10

   

0.91557

10

 
   

Linear

0.2147

9

0.113

 

0.86027

9

0.160

   

Spherical

0.2569

8

   

0.81655

8

 
                   
                   

Blacktail

Ungrazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.1572

10

   

0.202

10

 
   

Linear

0.3830

9

0.381

 

0.12036

9

 
   

Spherical

0.3694

8

   

0

8

 
   

2nd Order Polynomial

       

0.05164

8

<0.0001

   

3rd Order Polynomial

0.0605

 

0.000

       
                   

Blacktail

Grazed

Mean Fit (random)

1.5245

10

   

0.24191

10

 
   

Linear

1.3988

9

0.123

 

0.21414

9

0.084

   

Spherical

1.2835

8

         
   

4th order Polynomial

       

0.15598

6

0.050

                   

Stevens Creek

Ungrazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.0804

10

   

0.6074

10

 
   

Linear

0.3386

9

0.164

 

0.49005

9

0.033

   

Spherical

0.2977

8

         
                   
                   
 

Grazed

Mean Fit (random)

0.1956

10

   

0.13482

10

 
   

Linear

0.1243

9

0.163

 

0.09606

9

0.010

   

Spherical

0.1146

8

         
                   
                   


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