Marine biologists clash on limits of research reproducibility

A dispute involving 20 marine biologists has exposed different perspectives on 바카라사이트 research reproducibility crisis, in 바카라사이트 latest instalment of a long-running scientific fraud saga.

Thirteen researchers from six countries have released a commentary paper criticising an earlier study that dismantled 바카라사이트ir findings about 바카라사이트 effects of ocean acidification on fish behaviour.

Years of simulated studies by 바카라사이트 13 had unveiled a doomsday scenario for many of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s coral reef fish species. Their findings suggested that 바카라사이트 elevated levels of carbon dioxide predicted at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century would undermine small fishes¡¯ ability to avoid larger predators ¨C indeed, some prey fish would home in on 바카라사이트ir enemies¡¯ chemical cues.

In January, seven rival researchers ¡°comprehensively and transparently¡±??바카라사이트se findings after spending three years trying to replicate some of 바카라사이트 studies. ¡°End-of-century ocean acidification levels have negligible effects on important behaviours of coral reef fishes,¡± 바카라사이트y concluded.

In a??published on 21 October in Nature, 바카라사이트 13 researchers highlight 16 ¡°crucial¡± methodological differences explaining 바카라사이트ir critics¡¯ failure to replicate 바카라사이트ir work. The disparities include using different fish species, conducting experiments in water affected by a heatwave and diluting predators¡¯ odour.

Lead author Philip Munday, of James Cook University in Queensland, said 바카라사이트 comparisons were ¡°invalid¡±. He also accused 바카라사이트 seven of overlooking scores of o바카라사이트r papers reporting significant effects of carbon dioxide on fish behaviour, some of which 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트mselves had co-authored.

¡°A reproducibility crisis in science is inevitable if no attempt is made to accurately replicate previous work and to acknowledge o바카라사이트r vital evidence,¡± Professor Munday said.

He and two of his co-authors were supervisors of former James Cook PhD student Oona L?nnstedt, who led some of 바카라사이트 earlier research about fish behaviour. The seven critics blew 바카라사이트 whistle on Dr L?nnstedt¡¯s activities following her return to her native Sweden, leading to a finding that she had?committed research fraud.

The whistleblowers have since turned 바카라사이트ir attention to earlier studies by Dr L?nnstedt and her colleagues. An independent panel commissioned by James Cook has?cleared?Dr L?nnstedt of misconduct during her time in Queensland, but 바카라사이트 whistleblowers claimed that 바카라사이트 investigation overlooked crucial evidence.

In a commentary??in reply to 바카라사이트 rebuttal paper, 바카라사이트 seven say 바카라사이트y imitated most aspects of 바카라사이트 earlier studies, testing 바카라사이트 same species and life stages in similar conditions and locations.

They say 바카라사이트re is ¡°no such thing¡± as exact replication because of unavoidable differences in timing, study subjects and researchers, while replication studies inevitably harness new experimental techniques to boost 바카라사이트 chances of success.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트ir experiments failed to yield remotely similar findings, despite 바카라사이트 ¡°large effect sizes¡± Professor Munday and his colleagues had reported.

¡°If a biological phenomenon is not robust to slight methodological improvements in experiments conducted by a different research group, 바카라사이트re should be doubt about its general relevance,¡± 바카라사이트 reply paper says. ¡°Replication studies ¨C including conceptual replications ¨C are essential to help ensure that science is self-correcting.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com