Dominance Calculations in Population Sampling

Understanding Dominance in Populations

In ecology, dominance refers to the most abundant species or the species with the most significant influence in a community. Understanding dominance helps ecologists determine which species have the most impact on their environment.

Dominance can be calculated using various methods, including frequency, density, and coverage. Here, we'll focus on calculating dominance using frequency.

Key Concepts

• Frequency: The proportion of sample plots in which a species occurs.
• Density: The number of individuals of a species per unit area.
• Coverage: The area of ground covered by a species.

 

Calculating Dominance Using Frequency

To calculate dominance using frequency, follow these steps:

1. Count the number of plots where the species is present.
2. Divide this number by the total number of plots sampled.
3. Multiply by 100 to get a percentage.

 

Example: Calculating Frequency Dominance

Imagine you have sampled 10 plots in a forest, and a particular species is found in 7 of these plots. Calculate the frequency dominance of this species.