Page 9 - SGG_220316_Teachers_Handbook_Module_6

Community A Community B

Image 4. Species diversity differences: community A has 4 species, and 2 of them are the most
dominant; community B has 12 species, with similar abundances. Community B is more species
diverse than community A, both by species richness and species evenness.

Characterizing Communities – The Nature Education

Ecological diversity

The term “habitat” has several meanings. EUNIS (European Nature Information System) habitat
classification is: “a place where plants or animals normally live, characterized primarily by its
physical features (topography, plant or animal physiognomy, soil characteristics, climate, water
quality etc.) and secondarily by the species of plants and animals that live there”.

Therefore, ecological diversity measures the different ways that species interact with each other
and the environment are also a source of biological diversity

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the
views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the

information contained therein.