What does species richness refer to? Select True or False for each statement. T/F the number of species in an area T/F the evenness of species in an area T/F the functional diversity of a species in an area T/F the phylogenetic diversity of species in an area

Verified step by step guidance

1. Species richness refers to the total number of different species present in an area. It is a measure of biodiversity that counts the number of species but does not account for the abundance of each species.
2. True - Species richness is indeed the number of species in an area. This statement correctly defines species richness as it focuses solely on counting the different species present.
3. False - The evenness of species in an area refers to how equal the populations of each species are within a community. This concept is related to species evenness or equitability, not species richness.
4. False - The functional diversity of a species in an area refers to the range of different ecological roles or functions performed by species within an ecosystem. This is different from species richness, which only counts the number of species.
5. False - The phylogenetic diversity of species in an area refers to the extent of evolutionary relatedness among species in that area. This is a different concept from species richness, which does not consider the evolutionary or genetic relationships.

Key Concepts

Species Richness

Species richness refers to the number of different species present in a given area. It is a key component of biodiversity and provides a simple count of species without considering their abundance or distribution. For example, a forest with 50 different species of trees has higher species richness than a forest with only 20 species.

Species Evenness

Species evenness measures how evenly the individuals are distributed among the different species in a community. High evenness indicates that species are represented by similar numbers of individuals, while low evenness suggests that a few species dominate. This concept is important for understanding the structure and health of ecosystems.

Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity

Functional diversity refers to the range of different functions that species perform in an ecosystem, while phylogenetic diversity considers the evolutionary relationships among species. Both concepts provide deeper insights into biodiversity beyond mere species counts, highlighting the ecological roles and evolutionary history that contribute to ecosystem resilience.