Simplifying the complexity of temporal diversity dynamics: A differentiation approach

A simple, yet highly promising method of quantifying temporal diversity dynamics is to use the ratio of mean species richness, S, to potential species richness, P (cumulative S at a locality). In a rock pool meta-community of aquatic micro-invertebrates, this ratio, which we call the dynamics index (I), proved reliable as a predictor of assemblage type. We calculated within-habitat diversity dynamics for each of 49 pools that differed in environmental variability. The resulting dynamics indices provide an easily quantified measure of the diversity dynamics at various scales and, specifically, provide a measure of within-habitat temporal turnover in habitats where P can be reliably evaluated.