Of course, the whole IBI concept is a much more ambitious attempt to
standardize comparisons between ostensibly equivalent systems using a
convoluted weighting system for individual species' "worth" and tying that
somehow to their abundance. This is an appealing concept in principle to
many regulators and some scientists, but has various statistical weaknesses
such that many scientists who aren't directly trying to impress regulators
ignore such contrivances.
--Bruce Stallsmith
freshwater mussel diversity in the Tennessee is interesting too!
Huntsville, AL, US of A
>I am also intrigued by the difference between the concepts of diversity and
>richness. I gather that richness simply means number of species, but what
>is
>diversity? Would that be measured by lineage, habitat preference, food
>preference, number of bumps on the tongue, or ... what? And is this a
>_meaningful_ distinction (to wit, "A difference which MAKES no difference
>IS no
>difference.") ?
>
>Maybe those interested could reply offline, so as to streamline the list?
>
>--Irate
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