Detecting changes in diversity in a fluctuating environment based on simulation of stochastic processes

Authors
Citation
Oh. Diserud, Detecting changes in diversity in a fluctuating environment based on simulation of stochastic processes, OCEANOL ACT, 24(5), 2001, pp. 505-517
Citations number
54
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
OCEANOLOGICA ACTA
ISSN journal
0399-1784 → ACNP
Volume
24
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
505 - 517
Database
ISI
SICI code
0399-1784(200109/10)24:5<505:DCIDIA>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
In this paper, I present a method developed to detect 'extra', or novel, ch anges in diversity in a naturally fluctuating environment. When comparing s amples in order to evaluate changes in community structure, the sampling pr ocedure will inevitably induce randomness in observed species composition a nd abundance, so two samples may show considerable differences, even if the y come from exactly the same community. Sometimes the effort put into the s ampling varies as well, leading to the expectation of a further increase in difference. Finally, if there were a temporal distance between the samples , we would like to correct for variations in species abundance occurring na turally due to fluctuating environmental conditions. The test method presen ted here includes a model of the sampling procedure, and corrects for diffe rential sampling efforts. The population dynamics is modelled by a diffusio n process, its variance mimicking the effect a fluctuating environment has on species abundances. We are thereby able to test the null hypothesis of n o unnatural change in diversity, against the alternative of additional chan ges in community structure due to for example human disturbances. (C) 2001 Ifremer/CNRS/IRD/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.