An experimental evaluation of diversity indices as environmental discriminators

✍ Scribed by J. V. Robinson; C. D. Sandgren

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 731 KB
• Volume: 108
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-5141
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00014879

✦ Synopsis

Seven diversity indices were calculated for each of fifty-eight microcosm communities . All fifty-eight communities were initiated from equal density inoculations of fourteen algal species . Each microcosm developed in one of six controlled experimental environments ; the environments differing only in their temporal patterns of disturbance . Five linear discriminating techniques were used to evaluate the diversity index most useful for discriminating between these environments . The Shannon-Wiener index was best according to two of the discriminating methodologies and second best using the other techniques . Evenness was best when the Shannon-Wiener index was second best and vice versa .