12 Ecological diversity and forest management

Abstract

Abstract The diversity of an ecological community is defined in terms of the average species rarity of that community using both dichotomous- and rank-type rarity measures. Common diversity indices and profiles are developed using this definition and the concept of intrinsic diversity ordering is presented. The use of these diversity measures is illustrated in case studies involving the plant communities in two distinct forested ecosystems of the southeastern and northeastern United States. In these case studies, the objective is the comparative assessment of diversity changes over time and between treatments. Diversity profiles are further utilized in nonlinear mathematical programming models for uneven-aged stand management. The models present strategies for maximization and maintenance of structural diversity within uneven-aged stands. Finally, a principal components regression technique is presented which facilitates prediction of plant species diversity; the user need only be able to classify an individual into one of five life-forms — significantly reducing the taxonomic skills required for diversity assessment.