Statistical analysis of the phytocoenose homogeneity. VI. Frequency distribution of the total species diversity and evenness indices as a function of the area size. Summing-up discussion

Abstract

Homogeneity of the Leucobryo-Pinetum phytocoenose was assessed on the grounds of the agreement of frequency distributions of the total species diversity (A) and evenness (e) indices with the normal distribution. It was confirmed that: 1) empirical frequency distributions of H and e fitted the normal distribution only at some quadrat sizes; 2) values of mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation were non-linear functions of the area size; 3) mean H and e values calculated for small quadrats (1 and 2 m²) differed from those calculated for average (4 and 8 m²) and large (16 and 32 m²) quadrats: 4) the area size at which frequency distributions of both indices were symmetrical determined the scale of spatial differentiation of the phytocoenose, under which it was homogeneous.