Table 1.
Comparison of methods and scale used in studies that evaluate conservation impact.
(T: # treatment units; C: # control units).
Fig 1.
Continuous versus discrete data aggregation.
Treatment (blue) units at the protected area observed at different scales (full resolution at 182 ha x 417 ha). Binary aggregation is illustrated on the left panels and continuous aggregation on the right. (A)-(B) No aggregation. (C)-(D) 2x2 Aggregation. (E)-(F) 4x4 Aggregation. (G)-(H) 10x10 Aggregation.
Table 2.
Variation in treatment effects estimated with different methods and scales.
Table 3.
Percent difference in coefficient estimates between discrete and continuous and over aggregation.
Fig 2.
Monte Carlo Simulation Flow Chart.
Fig 3.
Aggregation and Disaggregation Procedure.
Example of a spatial process with true level = 4x4 resolution.
Fig 4.
Three possible treatment scenarios.
Treatment cells are identified with a red border, while the value of the independent variable X is represented by the cell color gradient (higher values for darker cells).
Fig 5.
Sample chart and conversion table for the horizontal axis.
Fig 6.
OLS results (X random, T contiguous, ρ = 0).
(A) True level = 1x1 resolution (pixel level). (B) True level = 6x6 resolution.
Fig 7.
OLS Results (T contiguous, ρ = 0).
(A) X = W2K and true level = 6x6 resolution. (B) X = (1 –πW)K and true level = 6x6 resolution.
Fig 8.
OLS Results (X random, T random, ρ = 0).
(A) True level = 1x1 resolution (pixel level) and discrete aggregation of treatment. (B) True level = 6x6 resolution and discrete aggregation of treatment. (C) True level = 6x6 resolution and continuous aggregation of treatment.
Fig 9.
OLS Results (X correlated, T dependent on X, ρ = 0).
(A) True level = 1x1 resolution (pixel level). (B) True level = 6x6 resolution.
Fig 10.
OLS versus STSLS results (true level = 6x6 resolution).
(A) OLS result (X correlated, T = f(X), ρ = 0.9). (B) STSLS result (X correlated, T = f(X), ρ = 0.9). (C) OLS result (X correlated, T = f(X), ρ = 0).
Fig 11.
Difference-in-Difference results (X and T random and true level = 6x6 resolution).
(A) ρ = 0. (B) ρ = 0.5. (C) ρ = 0.9.
Fig 12.
Comparison of different estimation methods (X correlated, T dependent on X, ρ = 0.9).
OLS (circles), STSLS (squares), DID (triangles). True level = 6x6 resolution, with 1,000 simulations.