Assessment of biodiversity: The impact of biovariability

Abstract

The theoretical concept of "biodiversity" in a time-space dimension is reconsidered in relation to scaling, and practical suggestions are given for a standardised quantitative measure. A formula is proposed to calculate the biodiversity metric of a hypothetical fauna. For each taxonomic group a minimum standard size of area is proposed, and as a standard, only adult

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;="" mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">specimens should be considered. The standard of time is discussed in relation to biodiversity in the northern Indian Ocean and Red Sea in the upwelling season. Time influences the outcome of a calculation. The yearly average value of diversity shows something about the general conditions of an area or a fauna. For the actual value at a certain moment the term <i>biovariability </i>is proposed. The <i>biovariability </i>is thus the actual diversity at a certain place and time, while the <i>biodiversity </i>is the average of the <i>biovariability </i>over a year. Appropriate plotting of biovariability should be against time and area.</span>