Efficient Evaluation of Biodiversity Concerns in Protected Areas

Table 4

Survey trade-offs to detect 5% change (𝑟) within a vegetation community where 𝑡 is the interval between surveys, 𝑛 the total number of surveys required, 𝑡(𝑛−1) the number of years it would take, and (1+𝑟)^{𝑡(𝑛−1)} the total change that has taken place by the time change is detected. We defined an optimal survey by first seeking the smallest amount of total change, then the shortest period to detect, and then the fewest number of surveys. We indicate these as bold values in the table.

	𝑡	Sandy plains									Rocky hills
		Richness			Abundance			Diversity			Richness			Abundance			Diversity
		𝑛	𝑡(𝑛−1)	(1+𝑟)^𝑡(𝑛−1)	𝑛	𝑡(𝑛−1)	(1+𝑟)^𝑡(𝑛−1)	𝑛	𝑡(𝑛−1)	(1+𝑟)^𝑡(𝑛−1)	𝑛	𝑡(𝑛−1)	(1+𝑟)^𝑡(𝑛−1)	𝑛	𝑡(𝑛−1)	(1+𝑟)^𝑡(𝑛−1)	𝑛	𝑡(𝑛−1)	(1+𝑟)^𝑡(𝑛−1)
Plants	1	6	5	1.28	6	5	1.28	4	3	1.16	7	6	1.34	6	5	1.28	4	3	1.16
	2	4	6	1.34	4	6	1.34	3	4	1.22	4	6	1.34	4	6	1.34	3	4	1.22
	3	3	6	1.34	3	6	1.34	2	3	1.16	3	6	1.34	3	6	1.34	2	3	1.16
	4	3	8	1.48	3	8	1.48	2	4	1.16	3	8	1.48	3	8	1.48	2	4	1.16
	5	2	5	1.28	2	5	1.28	2	5	1.16	2	5	1.28	2	5	1.28	2	5	1.16
Ants	1	7	6	1.34	14	13	1.89	7	6	1.34	9	8	1.48	13	12	1.80	6	5	1.28
	2	5	8	1.48	9	16	2.18	4	6	1.34	6	10	1.63	9	16	2.18	4	6	1.34
	3	4	9	1.55	7	18	2.41	3	6	1.34	3	9	1.55	6	15	2.08	3	6	1.34
	4	3	8	1.48	6	20	2.65	3	8	1.48	3	8	1.48	5	16	2.18	2	4	1.22
	5	2	5	1.28	5	20	2.65	2	5	1.28	3	10	1.63	4	15	2.08	2	5	1.28
Birds	1	8	7	1.41	12	11	1.71	8	7	1.41	11	10	1.63	12	11	1.71	9	8	1.48
	2	5	8	1.48	8	14	1.98	5	8	1.48	7	12	1.80	8	14	1.98	6	10	1.63
	3	4	9	1.55	6	15	2.08	4	9	1.55	5	12	1.80	6	15	2.08	4	9	1.55
	4	3	8	1.48	5	16	2.18	3	8	1.48	4	12	1.80	5	16	2.18	4	12	1.88
	5	3	10	1.63	4	15	2.08	3	10	1.63	4	15	2.08	4	15	2.08	3	10	1.63
Mammals	1	—	—	—	9	8	1.48	—	—	—	—	—	—	9	8	1.48	—	—	—
	2	—	—	—	6	10	1.63	—	—	—	—	—	—	6	10	1.63	—	—	—
	3	—	—	—	5	12	1.80	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	9	1.55	—	—	—
	4	—	—	—	4	12	1.80	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	8	1.48	—	—	—
	5	—	—	—	3	10	1.63	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	10	1.63	—	—	—