Laserfiche WebLink
intensity from, different vegetation types. Indices of relative abundance for data <br /> on predators obtained from the scent station visitation technique are provided by <br /> a formula developed by the Denver Wildlife Research Center (Linhart and <br /> Knowlton 1973) : <br /> Total number of visits by species <br /> Index = X 1000 <br /> Total number of operable station nights <br /> Species Diversity Index. An index to species diversity is provided for certain <br /> habitat types for certain groups of ani-nals. This index is based on the <br /> Shannon-Weiner function from the field of information theory (Margalef 1967; <br /> MacArthur and MacArthur 1971; Lloyd and Ghelardi 1964; Pielou 1966) . As a <br /> diversity index for community analysis, the function describes the average <br /> degree of uncertainty of predicting the species of a given individual picked at <br /> random from the community. This uncertainty and the index increase both as the <br /> number of species increases and as the individuals are distributed more and more <br /> equitably among species already present. The general formula for this index is <br /> as follows: <br /> H = Epi loge Pi <br /> where pi = decimal fraction of total individuals belonging to the ith species. <br /> This index varies from values of 0 for habitats containing a single species to <br /> values of 4 or 5 for communities containing many species, each with a small <br /> number of individuals. The Shannon-Weiner species diversity index may be used to <br /> compare community composition data from a variety of sources. Difference in <br /> diversity may be expected for communities at different stages of succession, <br /> in different habitats or at different times of the year. <br /> Habitat Affinities. Most animal species depend upon their inmedi.ate surroundings <br /> to provide basic requirements for food, shelter and water. Determination of <br /> habitat affinities within the normal range of a species may indicate its <br /> particular needs for survival and continued growth and reproduction. In general, <br /> an animal's habitat may be characterized by the predominant vegetation. Evaluation <br /> of distribution abundance patterns of different animal species within and between <br /> vegetation types provides a measure of habitat affinity. <br /> If all animal species in an area were randomly distributed with respect to <br /> -14- <br /> JUNIIISO <br />