Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity

A framework for a priori estimation of the expected sampling variances of the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson indices of species diversity is developed by the introduction of the most probable relative species abundance distribution (MOPSAD). MOPSAD gives the prior probability of a species' relative...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Magnussen, S., Boyle, T.J.B.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1995
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/17608
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author Magnussen, S.
Boyle, T.J.B.
author_browse Boyle, T.J.B.
Magnussen, S.
author_facet Magnussen, S.
Boyle, T.J.B.
author_sort Magnussen, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description A framework for a priori estimation of the expected sampling variances of the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson indices of species diversity is developed by the introduction of the most probable relative species abundance distribution (MOPSAD). MOPSAD gives the prior probability of a species' relative abundance. The beta distribution is used here as the prior for MOPSAD. Sample sizes needed for efficient statistical inference and hypothesis testing about the two indices are provided for 16 distinct beta priors for MOPSAD. Shannon-Weaver and Simpson's diversity indices in plant communities expected to have a `U'-shaped or a J-shaped MOPSAD will have large sampling variances. For the same statistical resolution the Simpson index requires about nine times as many samples as the Shannon-Weaver index. The impact of a positive or negative spatial association among species on the variance of the diversity indices was also assessed. In general, spatial association had little impact on the variance of the indices; it suffices to increase the sample size by about 5% as a safeguard against variance inflation due to spatial associations.
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spelling CGSpace176082025-01-24T14:11:54Z Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity Magnussen, S. Boyle, T.J.B. species biodiversity A framework for a priori estimation of the expected sampling variances of the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson indices of species diversity is developed by the introduction of the most probable relative species abundance distribution (MOPSAD). MOPSAD gives the prior probability of a species' relative abundance. The beta distribution is used here as the prior for MOPSAD. Sample sizes needed for efficient statistical inference and hypothesis testing about the two indices are provided for 16 distinct beta priors for MOPSAD. Shannon-Weaver and Simpson's diversity indices in plant communities expected to have a `U'-shaped or a J-shaped MOPSAD will have large sampling variances. For the same statistical resolution the Simpson index requires about nine times as many samples as the Shannon-Weaver index. The impact of a positive or negative spatial association among species on the variance of the diversity indices was also assessed. In general, spatial association had little impact on the variance of the indices; it suffices to increase the sample size by about 5% as a safeguard against variance inflation due to spatial associations. 1995 2012-06-04T09:02:16Z 2012-06-04T09:02:16Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/17608 en Magnussen, S., Boyle, T.J.B. 1995. Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity . Forest Ecology and Management 78 (1/3) :71-84. ISSN: 0378-1127.
spellingShingle species
biodiversity
Magnussen, S.
Boyle, T.J.B.
Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity
title Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity
title_full Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity
title_fullStr Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity
title_full_unstemmed Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity
title_short Estimating sample size for inference about the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson Indices of species diversity
title_sort estimating sample size for inference about the shannon weaver and the simpson indices of species diversity
topic species
biodiversity
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/17608
work_keys_str_mv AT magnussens estimatingsamplesizeforinferenceabouttheshannonweaverandthesimpsonindicesofspeciesdiversity
AT boyletjb estimatingsamplesizeforinferenceabouttheshannonweaverandthesimpsonindicesofspeciesdiversity