Constructing Species Frequency Distributions - A Step Toward Systemic Management

摘要

There is practical importance to understanding the process of constructing211u001efrequency distributions for the characteristics of species. Such distributions 211u001erepresent diversity and are needed to measure and observe the limits to variation 211u001eamong species so that such information can be used in management. Basically, the 211u001econstruction of species frequency distributions involves four steps: (1) data 211u001ecollection (measuring species); (2) finding the range of values within the data 211u001e(maximum minus minimum); (3) subdivision of the range into categories or bins; 211u001e(4) finding the portion of species that fall in each category established in step 211u001e3 (i.e., fraction of the sample of species measured); and (4) plotting the 211u001eresults in a historam to produce a graphic representation of an underlying 211u001eprobability distribution.