Sampling design optimization for EROD measurements in fish

Type Article
Date 1997
Language English
Author(s) Beliaeff Benoit1, Burgeot Thierry1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, F-44311 NANTES 3, FRANCE.
Source Marine Ecology Progress Series (0171-8630) (Inter-research), 1997 , Vol. 153 , P. 239-246
DOI 10.3354/meps153239
WOS© Times Cited 6
Keyword(s) biomonitoring, estimation, EROD activity, statistical power, sample size, sampling design
Abstract Activity of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) in fish is certainly the best-studied biomarker of exposure applied in the field to evaluate biological effects of contamination in the marine environment. Since 1991, a feasibility study for a monitoring network using this biomarker of exposure has been conducted along French coasts. Using data obtained during several cruises, this study aims to determine the number of fish required to detect a given difference between 2 mean EROD activities, i.e. to achieve an a priori fixed statistical power (l-beta) given significance level (alpha), variance estimations and projected ratio of unequal sample sizes (k). Mean EROD activity and standard error were estimated at each of 82 sampling stations. The inter-individual variance component was dominant in estimating the variance of mean EROD activity. Influences of alpha, beta, k and variability on sample sizes are illustrated and discussed in terms of costs. In particular, sample sizes do not have to be equal, especially if such a requirement would lead to a significant cost in sampling extra material. Finally, the feasibility of longterm monitoring is discussed.
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