{"title":"The birthday problem: repeated sampling of animal populations and ethics of experimental design","authors":"D.M. Green , C.G. Mitchell","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101352","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Researchers who use animals in science must balance statistical power with the need to satisfy the three Rs, whereby researchers are required to <em>reduce</em> numbers of animals, <em>refine</em> what they experience, and use alternatives to (<em>replace</em>) higher animals where possible. In repeated sampling over time-series studies, there is potential loss of power as well as ethics implications posed by repeated sampling of individual animals, where this cannot be managed or avoided. Here, we consider the mathematics of repeated sampling from three perspectives: that of the population at large, from the experience of the individual, and the conditional probability of sampled individuals being sampled again. The calculations are illustrated using four theoretical case studies across veterinary epidemiology with different practical implications and a provided R Shiny tool for researchers. Despite the availability of exact calculations, it is necessary to also consider the biological factors which may affect capture and recapture rates in sampling studies such as animal personality and response to capture. Researchers must also choose their question carefully to avoid inappropriate framing of ethical concerns around repeated sampling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"18 11","pages":"Article 101352"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Animal","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731124002891","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Researchers who use animals in science must balance statistical power with the need to satisfy the three Rs, whereby researchers are required to reduce numbers of animals, refine what they experience, and use alternatives to (replace) higher animals where possible. In repeated sampling over time-series studies, there is potential loss of power as well as ethics implications posed by repeated sampling of individual animals, where this cannot be managed or avoided. Here, we consider the mathematics of repeated sampling from three perspectives: that of the population at large, from the experience of the individual, and the conditional probability of sampled individuals being sampled again. The calculations are illustrated using four theoretical case studies across veterinary epidemiology with different practical implications and a provided R Shiny tool for researchers. Despite the availability of exact calculations, it is necessary to also consider the biological factors which may affect capture and recapture rates in sampling studies such as animal personality and response to capture. Researchers must also choose their question carefully to avoid inappropriate framing of ethical concerns around repeated sampling.
期刊介绍:
Editorial board
animal attracts the best research in animal biology and animal systems from across the spectrum of the agricultural, biomedical, and environmental sciences. It is the central element in an exciting collaboration between the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) and the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) and represents a merging of three scientific journals: Animal Science; Animal Research; Reproduction, Nutrition, Development. animal publishes original cutting-edge research, ''hot'' topics and horizon-scanning reviews on animal-related aspects of the life sciences at the molecular, cellular, organ, whole animal and production system levels. The main subject areas include: breeding and genetics; nutrition; physiology and functional biology of systems; behaviour, health and welfare; farming systems, environmental impact and climate change; product quality, human health and well-being. Animal models and papers dealing with the integration of research between these topics and their impact on the environment and people are particularly welcome.