Ecological diversity, or the variety and abundance of species in different habitats and communities, is one of the central themes of ecology. However, much of the existing literature on this subject is diffuse, often confusing, and in many cases complicated by unnecessarily difficult mathematics. This book aims to provide a succinct and clear summary of the relevant literature and a practical guide to the measurement of diversity.

The author discusses the methods of describing ecological diversity in conjunction with specific recommendations for the selection and interpretation...

Biological Diversity provides an up-to-date, authoritative review of the methods of measuring and assessing biological diversity, together with their application. The book's emphasis is on quantifying the variety, abundance, and occurrence of taxa, and on providing objective and clear guidance for both scientists and managers. This is a fast-moving field and one that is the focus of intense research interest. However the rapid development of new methods, the inconsistent and sometimes confusing application of old ones, and the lack of consensus in the literature about the best approach, means...

Although diversity is one of the central themes of ecology there is considerable disagreement ab out how it should be measured. I first encountered this problem 10 ycars ago whcn I started my research career and spent a long time pouring ovcr the literature in order to find the most useful techniques. The intervening decade has seen a further increasc in the number ofpapers devoted to the topic of ecological diversity but has led to no consensus on how it should be measured. My aim in writing this book is therefore to provide a practical guide to ecological diversity and its measurement. In a...