Understanding biodiversity effects on trophic interactions with a robust approach to path analysis

Wang, Yu-Quan; Shi, Da-Peng; Scherber, Christoph; Woodcock, Ben A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0300-9951; Hu, Yue-Qing; Wan, Nian-Feng ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9486-9150. 2025 Understanding biodiversity effects on trophic interactions with a robust approach to path analysis. Cell Reports Sustainability, 100362. 10, pp. 10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100362

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100362

Abstract/Summary

With its facility to assess causal mechanisms among multiple variables, the application of path analysis in medical, natural, and social sciences has become widespread. Of the many types of path analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM), including Bayesian applications of this method, has gained popularity. However, SEM remains constrained by biased estimates in the case of model misspecification, while Bayesian methods are limited by time consumption and computational requirements. Here, we propose a novel estimator utilizing robust estimating equations combined within a Bayesian framework to improve multilevel path analysis. We apply this method to an ecological trophic interaction case study that assessed the path effects of global plant diversity on the interactions of plants, invertebrate herbivores, and their natural enemies. Using a simulation study, we show that this new estimator is unbiased and more robust. Moreover, the computational time cost for the estimating procedure is reduced compared with multivariate Bayesian analysis.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100362
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity and Land Use (2025-)
ISSN:	2949-7906
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	Bayesian analysis, biodiversity effects, mediation analysis, path analysis, structural equation modeling, trophic interactions
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Computer Science Data and Information
Related URLs:	Dataset Code
Date made live:	02 Apr 2025 15:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539206

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100362

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity and Land Use (2025-)

ISSN:

2949-7906

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

Bayesian analysis, biodiversity effects, mediation analysis, path analysis, structural equation modeling, trophic interactions