Chapter 17: Problem 1

Distinguish between species richness and species evenness.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer: Species richness is a measure of the number of different species in an ecosystem, focusing on biodiversity, while species evenness measures how evenly distributed the individuals of different species are within an ecosystem, taking into account the relative abundance of each species. Species richness does not imply a healthy ecosystem, whereas species evenness provides insights into the stability and balance of the ecosystem.

Step by step solution

Define Species Richness

Species richness is a measure of the number of different species found in an ecosystem. It represents the biodiversity of a given area or community, by taking into account the total number of species present. Simply put, species richness tells us how many different types of organisms can be found in a specific area.

Define Species Evenness

Species evenness is a measure of how evenly distributed the individuals of different species are within an ecosystem. It takes into consideration the relative abundance of each species, and provides a way of understanding how balanced the ecosystem is. A high species evenness means that the different species in an ecosystem have similar abundances, while low evenness indicates that some species dominate the ecosystem and others are relatively rare.

Outline Key Differences Between Species Richness and Species Evenness

The main differences between species richness and species evenness are: 1. Focus: Species richness focuses on the number of different species in an ecosystem, while species evenness explores the distribution of individuals among these species. 2. Interpretation: High species richness indicates high biodiversity, while high species evenness suggests a balanced ecosystem. 3. Evaluating ecosystems: Species richness does not necessarily imply a healthy or well-functioning ecosystem, whereas species evenness provides more insight into the stability and balance of the ecosystem.

Provide Examples for Species Richness and Species Evenness

Example for Species Richness: Suppose we have two ecosystems: Ecosystem A has 10 different species of plants, while Ecosystem B has 5 different species of plants. In this case, Ecosystem A has a higher species richness than Ecosystem B (10 species vs 5 species). Example for Species Evenness: Consider Ecosystem A with 10 different plant species, 100 individuals in total. If 90 individuals belong to Species 1 and the remaining 10 individuals are evenly distributed among the other 9 species, the species evenness is low. However, if each of the 10 species contains 10 individuals, the species evenness is high, indicating a more balanced ecosystem.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Distinguish between species richness and species evenness.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Define Species Richness

Define Species Evenness

Outline Key Differences Between Species Richness and Species Evenness

Provide Examples for Species Richness and Species Evenness

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

Ecology Research

Biological Resources

Sustainability

Living Environment

Physical Environment

Environmental Research

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.