Calculation of the number of samples needed to estimate the species richness of a taxocene

Resumo

A formula to calculate the area of samples that would provide the necessary level of completeness for a species richness survey of a cenosis has been deduced. The model is based on a stochastic differential equation that describes random fluctuations in species abundance and on the assumption that a Poisson distribution of individuals in space occurs. The calculations are illustrated based on the example of the littoral polychaete taxocene in Vityaz Bay of Possiet Bay of the Sea of Japan.