area that are all of the same species • Several different populations may be found in a community. • A population of one kind may affect a population of another kind within the community. • Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an area. • Communities with many different species (a high index of diversity) will be able to withstand environmental changes better than communities with only a few species (a low index of diversity). Levels of Organization studied in Ecology… •In a jungle community, some populations, such as ants, fungi, and ferns, can be very large in number. Other populations such as tigers and snakes have fewer members. •Why do you think population sizes vary among organisms? INDEX OF DIVERSITY • Circle= Star apple tree • Triangle = Mango Tree • Calculate the Index Diversity Legends: Triangle (blue) = Sampaloc tree Triangle (red)= Chico Tree Square= Kamias tree Circle= Star apple tree Rectangle = Mango Tree