Table 2 Criteria for critical appraisal and data extraction from studies selected after full text screening
From: Is local best? Examining the evidence for local adaptation in trees and its scale
Main sections | Criteria for critical appraisal | Assessment | Data extracted |
|---|---|---|---|
Description of the study site(s) | Are the location of trial sites known? | If not then individual provenances or trial sites within studies excluded. Ultimately study excluded | Latitude and longitude of trial sites and germplasm sampling sites |
Population | Are the location of the germplasm sampling sites known? | If not then individual provenances or trial sites dropped. Ultimately study excluded | Latitude and longitude of trial sites and germplasm sampling sites |
Methods (clear and repeatable methodology) | Sampling of germplasm | 0 = no info Poor <10 trees (individual provenances dropped) Good >10 | Number of trees collected from in provenance seed sample |
Precision of measuring effects | 0 = no info Poor <10 trees (individual provenances or trial sites dropped. Ultimately study excluded) Good >10 | Plot size (no of trees)/shape, number of plots, treatments, blocks, replications and test sites (see also below)—number of trees that contributed to the mean | |
Replication | 0 = no info Poor <3 provenances and replications Good ≥3 provenances and replications | ||
Outcome measured at relevant moment | 0 = no information Poor–younger age than data extraction criteria Good ≥age for data extraction criteria | Phenology data ≥2 years after planting Survival data ≥2 years after planting Growth data 15–25 % rotation age | |
Results | Validity or reliability of data | Data for mean, SD/SE and or ANOVAR indicating significance of differences | |
Variables measured allow relevance to performance to be deduced | Survival, growth (height, dbh, volume), disease/pest impact, frost damage, phenology of bud burst/set, flower/seed production | ||
Evidence of bias to estimates of means | Individual site or whole study excluded | Differential treatment of provenances within trial (e.g. management that lead to distortions, fertiliser, thinning) |