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Contents:
1 - Introduction: Measurement of (biological) diversity; 2 - The commonness, and rarity, of species; 3 - How many species?; 4 - An index of diversity; 5 - Comparative studies of diversity; 6 - Diversity in space (and time); 7 - No prospect of an end.
Review:
Biological diversity, as an academic area, continues to expand. Indeed, the growth rate for academic papers is nearly a straight line in the log-graph the author uses to illustrate this point! If this is to be maintained then it is important that guides are produced at a number of levels. The basic level is well catered for as biodiversity becomes a lower secondary topic. The next level up, at senior secondary/undergraduate level is less well serviced: this book seeks to fill part of that gap. Magurran's earlier text on a similar theme looked in more depth at the concept of measurement: this text aims to take the broader picture. Thus chapter one opens with case studies and the way in which the subject has changed in the last few years. There is also a review of key terms and concepts. Chapter two looks at species abundance and the ways this can be analysed. Rarity is one aspect of abundance and this is also described along with a decent discussion of the limitations of common models. Chapter three tackles the question of the actual total number of species - not the same as the diversity at a given site but equally important. There is a common theme here - the need to find a powerful but simple measure of the numbers and distributions of species. Of course, the first thing is to define a species - there are several pitfalls in this seemingly simple aim. Once we've agreed we can start to look at species numbers and the methods (and their pros and cons) used. So far the reader has looked at the various models of diversity and richness. Even allowing for the large range described here (and the most complex are ignored in this introductory text) there is still a search for another ideal - a single measure that encompasses both aspects. Chapter four is given over to this aim. It starts with a great overview about choosing an index and then describes a series of models that could be used. Chapter five considers changes in diversity between places. As Magurran rightly points out it's only when we are comparing areas that we can see how diversity is affected (especially in areas subjected to human impact for example). We start with a useful overview of the limitations of sampling. It continues by looking at the various statistical measures that can be used and concludes with a brief overview of the application of measures in environmental assessment. So far, we have assumed that diversity is static but, of course, it varies in space and time. Thus chapter six explores a range of methods which can be used to chart these changes. A final (too?) brief chapter highlights the growth of the field and how it might develop. Those wanting more can follow the considerable number of references and a series of worked examples.
This is an extremely useful book. It covers two areas well: it outlines the nature of diversity and it gives a very wide range of (critically discussed) methods for describing it. It's this duality that gives the book it's edge. There are few texts in the realms of statistical ecology that give so many techniques in so short a space. The addition of cases allows the reader to see work in practice. A good text for the final secondary year student and educator and probably essential for any undergraduate course in this area.