New Jersey City University Community Structure and Species Diversity Indices Essay

1.Look at the Excel sheet given with the data collected from each species, throughout the forested habitat on either the windward (Community A) or leeward (Community B) side of the island. The data sheet gives you the raw data (per quadrat area in the forest).

2. Using the formulas on the “Calculating Biodiversity” handout (Univ. of Florida), calculate the following for each of your communities:

• What is the species richness?
• What is the species evenness?
• What is the Simpson’s Diversity Index?
• What is the Shannon-Weaver Index?

3. Calculate the Sorenson’s Coefficient of Community Similarity to compare both communities.

4. For each Community, starting at the top line with thefirst quadrat sampled, build a species-area curve. A species-area curve looks at the number ofdifferent species encountered (y-axis) and area sampled (# of quadrats,x-axis). Continue to plot this way foreach coordinate (so, with each coordinate you sample, add to your graph) untilit starts to even off like the example.

Some helpful tutorial videos if needed:

Simpson’s calculation

Shannon Index

Answer the following questions in addition to the data activity above:

1. Which community is more diverse? Why?

2. Why do you think the communities don’t overlap 100%?