Biodiversity
Why is Biodiversity Important? Genetic diversity:
Why is Biodiversity Important? Species Diversity:
Why is Biodiversity Important? Ecosystem Diversity:
Diversity = Richness + Evenness richness: count of # species evenness: relative abundance of species Ecosystem AEcosystem B 4 oak species3 oak species bl oak = 40 bl oak = 120 wh oak = 30wh oak = 60r oak = 20 pin oak = 10pin oak = 0
A = B = alpha ( ) diversity – within habitat C = beta ( ) diversity – among habitat D = gamma ( ) diversity – geographic scale Three Scales of Diversity
Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices Shannon-Wiener Index – most used -sensitive to change in status of rare species H’ = diversity of species (range 0-1+) s = # of species p i = proportion of total sample belonging to ith species
Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices Shannon-Wiener Index
Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices Simpson Index – sensitive to changes in most abundant species D = diversity of species (range 0-1) s = # of species p i = proportion of total sample belonging to ith species
Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices Simpson Index
Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices Species Evenness H’ max = maximum value of H’ = ln(s)
Beta Species Diversity Indices Sorensen’s Coefficient of Community Similarity – weights species in common S s = coefficient of similarity (range 0-1) a = # species common to both samples b = # species in sample 1 c = # species in sample 2
Beta Species Diversity Indices Sorensen’s Coefficient of Community Similarity Dissimilarity = D S = b + c / 2a + b + c Or S s
SpeciesSample 1Sample
Sorensen’s Coefficient Sample 1 –Total occurrences = b = 7 -# joint occurrences = a = 5 Sample 2 –Total occurrences = c = 5 -# joint occurrences = a = 5 S s = 2 * 5 / = 0.45 (45%) D s = 1 – 0.45 = 0.55 (55%)
Species-of-the-Week American woodcock (Scolopax minor)
Habitat Woods & thickets with moist soil, small openings near woody cover aspen, alder, willow cover types (early successional = seedling/sapling stage; <3 in dbh)
Food Diet = 50-90% earthworms Diurnal foraging in spring/summer Nocturnal foraging in winter Long bill used as probe (foot stomping)
Reproduction Courtship behavior = males on breeding fields Mar- Apr -- polygynous Clutch size = ~4 eggs I.P. = 21 days; near full grown in 28 days Behavior -Migratory – winters in SE U.S. -Nonvocal calls = wing position
Estimating Abundance of Wildlife Terms -Population -Relative vs. Absolute Abundance -Parameter vs. Statistic -Population Index -Accuracy -Precision -Bias
Estimating Abundance of Wildlife Complete Counts (Census) -open habitat = visible wildlife -concentration of activity -small study area
Estimating Abundance of Wildlife Complete Counts (Census) -Drives * Biased (under- or overestimate) -Territorial (Spot) Mapping e.g., breeding birds
Territorial (Spot) Mapping Limitations: - territorial species (grouse, songbirds) - sex ratio known or assumed -nonterritorial males? (floaters) -ability to id species & map territories
Estimating Abundance of Wildlife Complete Counts (Census) -Aerial Counts & Sensing - must see animal to count it! - Aerial Photos or IR Thermal Scans -photos of migratory waterfowl
Estimating Abundance of Wildlife Complete Counts (Census) -Aerial Counts & Sensing Aerial line-transect counts -must see animal to count it! Aerial Photos or IR Thermal Scans -photos of migratory waterfowl -IR scans of wildlife (bowhunting study in MN – loss rate)
Estimating Abundance of Wildlife Complete Counts - Sample Plots -Line transects (ground or aerial) -e.g., flush count for grassland birds -assumes 100% detection
Indices of Relative Abundance …dependent on the collection of samples that represent some relatively constant but unknown population size –Traps, number of fecal pellets, vocalization frequency, pelt records, catch/unit effort, number of artifacts, questionnaires, cover, feeding capacity, roadside counts
Indices of Relative Abundance
Capture Techniques
Radio Telemetry
Female Male Spatial Organization
Scent Stations
Remote Camera Systems
DNA Fingerprinting
GPS