pˈæɾɚsən nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wʌz ʌnˈeɪbəl tə dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ bᵻtwˌiːn ðə stˈeɪdʒᵻz ʌv ɪnˈɪʃəl ˈɛdʒɪŋ ænd sˈɛkəndɚɹi θˈɪnɪŋ jˈuːzɪŋ stɐtˈɪstɪkəl ɐnˈæləsˌɪs ʌv fˈoːɹtiːn ɛkspˌɛɹɪmˈɛntəl ɐsˈɛmblɪdʒᵻz.
Patterson (1990) was unable to distinguish between the stages of initial edging and secondary thinning using statistical analysis of 14 experimental assemblages.