Biodiversity

1. Biodiversity

2. Why is Biodiversity Important? • Genetic diversity:

3. Why is Biodiversity Important? • Species Diversity:

4. Why is Biodiversity Important? • Ecosystem Diversity:

5. Diversity = Richness + Evenness • richness: count of # species • evenness: relative abundance of species Ecosystem AEcosystem B 4 oak species 3 oak species bl oak = 40 bl oak = 120 wh oak = 30 wh oak = 60 r oak = 20 r oak = 20 pin oak = 10 pin oak = 0

6. Three Scales of Diversity A = B = alpha () diversity – within habitat C = beta () diversity – among habitat D = gamma () diversity – geographic scale

7. 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 • pi = proportion of total sample belonging to ith species

8. Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices • Shannon-Wiener Index

10. Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices • Simpson Index – sensitive to changes in most abundant species • D = diversity of species (range 0-1) • s = # of species • pi = proportion of total sample belonging to ith species

11. Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices • Simpson Index

13. Alpha & Gamma Species Diversity Indices • Species Evenness • H’max = maximum value of H’ = ln(s)

14. Beta Species Diversity Indices • Sorensen’s Coefficient of Community Similarity – weights species in common • Ss = coefficient of similarity • (range 0-1) • a = # species common to both samples • b = # species in sample 1 • c = # species in sample 2

15. Beta Species Diversity Indices • Sorensen’s Coefficient of Community Similarity • Dissimilarity = DS = b + c / 2a + b + c • Or 1.0 - Ss

17. Sorensen’s Coefficient • Sample 1 • Total occurrences = b = 7 • # joint occurrences = a = 5 • Sample 2 • Total occurrences = c = 5 • # joint occurrences = a = 5 • Ss = 2 * 5 / 10 + 7 + 5 = 0.45 (45%) • Ds = 1 – 0.45 = 0.55 (55%)

18. Species-of-the-Week • American woodcock (Scolopax minor)

21. Habitat • Woods & thickets with moist soil, small openings near woody cover • aspen, alder, willow cover types (early successional = seedling/sapling stage; <3 in dbh)

26. Food • Diet = 50-90% earthworms • Diurnal foraging in spring/summer • Nocturnal foraging in winter • Long bill used as probe (foot stomping)

27. 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

28. Estimating Abundance of Wildlife • Terms • Population • Relative vs. Absolute Abundance • Parameter vs. Statistic • Population Index • Accuracy • Precision • Bias

32. Estimating Abundance of Wildlife • Complete Counts (Census) • open habitat = visible wildlife • concentration of activity • small study area

33. Estimating Abundance of Wildlife • Complete Counts (Census) • Drives • * Biased (under- or overestimate) • Territorial (Spot) Mapping • e.g., breeding birds

34. Limitations: • territorial species (grouse, songbirds) • sex ratio known or assumed • nonterritorial males? (floaters) • ability to id species & map territories • Territorial (Spot) Mapping

35. 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

37. 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)

39. Estimating Abundance of Wildlife • Complete Counts - Sample Plots • Line transects (ground or aerial) • e.g., flush count for grassland birds • assumes 100% detection

40. 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

41. Indices of Relative Abundance

42. Capture Techniques

43. Capture Techniques

45. Radio Telemetry

46. Spatial Organization Female Male

47. Scent Stations

49. Remote Camera Systems

50. DNA Fingerprinting