Pareto analysis of paleontological data: A new method of weighing variable importance

Abstract

Pareto analysis is a method to determine which few of many variables significantly affect a measured end result. A macro for Microsoft Excel™ was developed and successfully applied to a set of population abundances for three arcellacean and one foraminiferal species with respect to which environmental variable was most important in determining abundance; either pH, salinity or oxygen content. It was found that Cribroelphidium gunteri, a foraminifera, was abundant under conditions of high oxygen content and high salinity. However, C. gunteri abundance decreased upon an increase in pH. Centropyxis aculeata, an arcellacean, decreased in abundance with an increase in salinity above 5%. Another arcellacean, Difflugia corona, experienced a decreased abundance when salinity increased. The arcellacean Lagenodifflugia vas was not sensitive to an increase in the three variables tested. This analysis allows rapid identification of the most important variables in determining abundances of protists in an environmental setting. Copyright: Paleontological Society, 22 October 1999.