Natural Sciences >> Integrative BiologyBrazilian Pepper's Impact on Barrier Island Biodiversityby Grayson McCormick
Submitted : Fall 2010
In this project two quadrats of land were layed out on Honeymoon Island State Park and their biodiversity indices compared. The numbers of individuals belonging to six species were counted in each quadrat; Florida Privett, Scrub Oak, Saltbush, Cabbage Palm, Slash Pine, Brazilian Pepper. The indicies used to calculate diveristy were the Simpson Index of Diversity and the Shannon-Wiener index. Both equations have strengths and limitations. From those indicies, the impact of the invasive Brazilian Pepper was assessed for both plots. A more complex model for biodiversity generalized by Stephen P. Hubbell’s Unified Neutal Theory of Biodiversity was also incorporated and Brazilian Pepper’s possible impact through this model.
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