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e <br />ESPEY, HUSTON & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />r~ <br />LJ <br />Species Diversity and Equitability Indices <br />Species diversity indices for each affected and reference community <br />were determined with the formula: <br />species diversity = S/log N, <br />where S equals the number of species in a sample and N equals the total number of <br />individuals (transects) in a sample (Whittaker, 1975). Equitability indices were <br />determined for each community using the formula: <br />n. n. <br />- E N) log (N) , <br />where ni equals the cover value for each species encountered in a community and N <br />equals the total vegetation cover in a community. <br />• Similarity Indices <br />Similarity indices were calculated as a means of comparing reference <br />versus affected communities. A similazity index exhibits the percent overlap of <br />species cover between two communities, or that portion of the species cover of two <br />communities that is identical. Similarity indices were calculated by: <br />Similarity index = EA+B z 100, <br />where W equals the lesser cover value of a species in two communities, A equals the <br />cover value of that species in one community, and B equals the cover value of that <br />species in the other community. These aze summed for each plant species occurring <br />in the two communities being compazed. <br />2.2.3 Collection andCollectioa and Analysis of Shrub Density Dataof Shrub Density Data <br />Shrub density was estimated by counting the number of mature indi- <br />viduals or clumps within a quadrat constructed along the line transect. A 5-square <br />n <br />U <br />K-6 <br />