Index of Biodiversity

Question 1

An index of diversity is

Answer 1

a measurement that describes the relationship between the number of species present and how each species contributes to the total number of organisms that are present in that community

It is a much more informative measurement than species richness

For example, habitat A has 10 different plant species and habitat B has 7 different plant species

Habitat A would have a greater species richness score than habitat B

However, in habitat A there is only one individual of each plant species present (10 individuals present) while in habitat B there are over 20 individuals of each species present (over 140 individuals present)

Habitat B would have a greater index of diversity than habitat A

Question 1

Once the abundance of different species in an area has been recorded the results can be used to calculate the species diversity or biodiversity for that area

Species diversity looks at

Answer 1

the number of different species in an area but also the evenness of abundance across the different species

Question 2

The index of diversity formula
The formula is:

and what does it all mean

Answer 2

d = N(N-1)/ Σn(n-1)

n = total no. of organisms for a single species in the community
N = total no. of organisms in the community
Σ = sum of
The larger the number obtained, the higher the level of diversity

Question 3

To calculate:
Step 1: ….
Step 2: …………
Step 3: ………..
Step 4: ………

Answer 3

Calculate N(N-1) to find value A

Calculate n(n-1) for each species

Add these numbers together to find value B

Divide value A by value B

Question 4

PRACTICE THESE EVEN THOUGH GIVEN FORMULA

Question 5

HIGHER THE NUMBER THE … BIODIVERSITY

Answer 5

HIGHER