Tests and confidence intervals for a common upper endpoint in fossil taxa

Abstract

Statistical inference about the upper and lower endpoints of the stratigraphic ranges of fossil taxa can be based on the pattern of finds. Strauss and Sadler (1989) described a test and confidence interval for a common upper or lower endpoint in two or more taxa. This approach is conservative, in the sense that it provides only an upper bound on the significance level. This paper describes and illustrates a test and confidence interval for which the significance level is known.