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 …