Calculating Species Importance Values

Overview:
Plant species vary in their responses to environmental factors. A
given species will have a unique set of tolerances to environmental
variables, such as light, temperature, moisture, and nutrients. At
the community level, these differences in tolerances will cause
various species to have competitive advantages, depending on the
nature of those environmental factors.

We will examine the distribution of tree species with respect to

terrain properties. Several major environmental variables are
impacted by terrain, including light, temperature and moisture.
Steep slopes and ridgetops tend to be drier due to drainage.
Temperature drops with elevation. Sunlight intensity and duration
varies with aspect (i.e. the angle of the slope plane with respect to
north). Solar radiation is greatest for south facing slopes in the
Northern Hemisphere. Soil depth and nutrient concentrations
typically decrease with elevation, although this relationship can be
quite complex depending on hillslope geomorphology.

In any terrestrial watershed, then, we will expect to see vegetation controlled by terrain attributes. We
hypothesize that tree species distributions will differ with respect to hillslope position (streamside vs
ridgetop). As a first step, you must decide on your research question.

Using data gathered at our study site, we will analyze vegetation distribution and abundance using the
point-quarter sampling method. We will estimate the density, frequency, and coverage of mature trees
and calculate the importance values. Then, we will compare these values to another site. The methods
used come from Chap 3 in Brower, Zar and von Ende (1997).

Calculating Species Importance Values

Vocabulary:

Point-quarter sampling method

Quadrants
DBH
Mean point-to-plant distance
Relative density
Absolute density
Frequency
Relative Frequency
Coverage
Relative Coverage
Importance Value
Importance Percentage

Materials:

1. Data Sheet
2. Measuring Tape
3. Compass

Procedure:

1- Each team will calculate importance value for their study sub-plots. Make sure your class has set out
the transect, and your team has set out its sub-plot before proceeding. Select a number of randomly
determined points (e.g., within each study sub-plot, or, within the subplots for each habitat type being
studied, e.g., streamside, ridge). Each point represents the center of four compass directions (N, S, E, W)
that divide the sampling site into four “quarters” or quadrants.

2- In each quadrant, measure the distance and slope angle from the center point to the center of the
nearest individual, regardless of species. Only one plant per quadrant is measured, so that a total of four
plants are recorded for each point sampled.

3- Identify the plant, and record its diameter at a height of 137 cm above the ground. This is known as
DBH, or diameter at breast height.

The center of the rooted stem or the center of the crown of a clump of stems should be used when
measuring the point-to-plant distance. If two plants are fairly close, be sure to measure the distance of
both and record the smaller distance from the center point. Do not depend on visual perception of the
distance to judge the closest plant, since there is a tendency to judge the larger of two plants as the
closer. Record all measurements in your field book, using the format specified.

Calculating Species Importance Values

Calculations:

1- Sum all point-to-plant distances taken for all species and compute the mean: d-bar = Σdi/Σni (d-bar is
the mean point-to-plant distance, di is the point-to-plant distance for an individual plant, and Σni is the
total number of individuals measured)

The mean area in which a single plant occurs is equal to the mean distance squared. This relation can be
visualized as one individual in a square area in which the side of the square is equal to the mean point-
to-plant distance A-bar = (d-bar)2 (A-bar is the mean area per plant)

2- Calculate Relative density (RD) for each species, which is RDi = ni/Σni (ni is the number of individuals
of a given species counted and RDi is the relative density of the given species).
The absolute density (D) for a species is Di = (ni/Σni)(u/A-bar) (u represents the number of area units to
be used in expressing density. When hectare is used as the standard unit, u equals 10000 m2. [note that
Di is also equal to RDi*TD, where TD is total density for all species, TD = u/A-bar])

3- Frequency is the chance of finding a given species within a sample, and is given by fi = ji/k (fi is the
frequency of a species, ji is the number of sampling points at which the species was counted, and k is the
total number of points sampled.)

Calculate Relative frequency. (Rf) is the frequency of a given species (fi) as a proportion of the sum of
the frequencies for all species (Σf) Rfi = fi/Σf

4- Coverage (C) is the proportion of the ground occupied by a vertical projection to the ground from the
aerial parts of the plant, and is given by Ci = (ai)(Di)/ni (ai is the sum of the basal areas (computed from
DBH) for a species, Di is the density of the species, and ni is the total number of individuals sampled for
that species.)

Calculate Relative coverage for a species, which is RCi = Ci/ΣC (ΣC is the total coverage or basal area for
all species.)

5- The sum of the above three relative measures for a species is an index called the Importance Value
(IVi) IVi = RDi + Rfi + RCi The value of IV may range from 0 to 3.00 (or 300%). Dividing IV by 3 will result in
a figure that ranges from 0 to 1.00 (or 100%). This value is referred to as the importance percentage.
The importance value, or the importance percentage, gives an overall estimate of the influence of
importance of a plant species in the community.

Calculating Species Importance Values

Results:

Determine the two most dominant tree species in your sub-plot, compare these values to another site,
and use the appropriate statistical tests to determine if (a) their mean diameters differ by sample
location, and (b) if there is any difference in frequency by sample location.

Discussion:

Were there differences in species composition and biomass as hypothesized in your research question?

Thanks to Dr. Alan Yeakley for this write up.