4.3 - Measuring Populations and Biodiversity

Front

What is the Lincoln Index used for?

Back

The Lincoln Index is a method used to estimate the population size of mobile organisms by capturing a sample, marking them, releasing them, and then recapturing another sample to see how many marked individuals are present.

Front

Define Simpson's Index.

Back

Simpson's Index is a measure of biodiversity that accounts for both species richness and evenness, providing a value that indicates the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to the same species.

Front

What is Quadrat Sampling?

Back

Quadrat Sampling is a technique used to estimate the population size and distribution of organisms in a specific area by placing a square frame (quadrat) on the ground and counting the number of individuals within that frame.

Front

Explain Transect Sampling.

Back

Transect Sampling involves laying out a straight line (transect) across a habitat and recording the species and their abundance at regular intervals along that line, useful for studying distribution patterns.

Front

What does species richness refer to?

Back

Species richness refers to the number of different species present in a given area or ecosystem.

Front

What is species evenness?

Back

Species evenness measures how evenly the individuals in a community are distributed among the different species, indicating the balance of species populations.

Front

How is biodiversity calculated using Simpson's Index?

Back

Biodiversity using Simpson's Index is calculated by the formula D = 1 - ∑(n/N)², where n is the number of individuals of each species and N is the total number of individuals of all species.

Front

What is the significance of a higher Simpson's Index value?

Back

A higher Simpson's Index value indicates greater biodiversity, meaning a more balanced distribution of species and a lower likelihood of dominance by a single species.

Front

What is the purpose of using the Lincoln Index in population studies?

Back

The Lincoln Index helps ecologists estimate the size of wildlife populations, which is crucial for conservation efforts and understanding ecological dynamics.

Front

Describe the importance of biodiversity in ecosystems.

Back

Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem stability, resilience, and productivity, as it contributes to ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and habitat provision.