A homogeneity index based on species diversity in Sour Bushveld

Abstract

The co-efficient of variation (CV) for the linear regressions of species-area curves, on a linear species number/log area scale, for the samples in a community, appears to indicate the homogeneity of the community. A CV of less than 15% appears to indicate homogeneous vegetation while a CV greater than 15% seems to be indicative of vegetation heterogeneity, as correlated with extremes in recorded environmental factors in Sour Bushveld.