Surveying Natural Populations

The degradation of environments and the fate of their natural populations have become topics of great concern as scientists struggle to inventory as many endangered organisms as possible. But because of the number of organisms involved, biologists—often with limited background in statistical analysis—must frequently depend upon sampling to complete their task of estimating population parameters. Surveying Natural Populations is a user-friendly primer to the essential survey methodologies of quantitative field ecology, or paleoecology, integrating the intuitive approach of the field researcher with the rational analytical tools of the statistician. The chapters guide the uninitiated step by step through such topics as estimating population densities, determining adequate sample sizes, estimating the relative abundance of species, and measuring and modeling diversity. Employing a single data set for clarity, the book demonstrates the application of a wide spectrum of statistical techniques to this model. A wealth of other examples from the natural world illustrates the use of each method with different kinds of organisms. Designed as a comprehensive introduction and handy methodological reference for students and professionals alike, this book is filled with lucid explanations, real-world examples, practice problem sets, more than one hundred illustrations and tables, and many applications to research issues of current concern. For zoologists, botanists, archaeobotanists, archaeologists, and paleontologists, Surveying Natural Populations is a clear and creative guidebook to the range of sophisticated statistical techniques at their disposal.