Biodiversity Analysis

Analyses of species diversity and species composition

Biodiversity is more than just the number of species in a particular area. It also describes the genetic variability, the variety of species and their habitats. Each species occupies a specific ecological niche and the more species that live in an ecosystem and interact with each other, the better this ecosystem can react to disturbances (resilience). Biodiversity and ecosystem function are therefore closely linked. This is why analysing biodiversity can provide specific insights into nature conservation issues, far removed from simple ‘species counting’.

By analysing biodiversity, species composition and functional diversity, it is possible to investigate the extent to which various environmental factors could influence ecosystems, and to draw conclusions about ecosystem function itself and the health of the ecosystem.

We offer the following analyses, among others

  • Determination of the number of species based on available data or on our own mapping and identification service
  • Extrapolations to determine the estimated absolute number of species and calculation of various abundance-based biodiversity indices
  • Functional biodiversity analyses (calculation of niche occupation and functional diversity)
  • Analysis of species composition
  • All indices (number of species, diversity, functional diversity & species composition) can also be tested for correlations with environmental factors if required (univariate and multivariate approaches, linear regression, mixed models…)*.
  • At the end, the customer receives a report with all results (graphically prepared) as a PDF or in printed form.

*Environmental factors can also be based on existing data or determined on the basis of our own mapping services