In comparing Communities A and B below,the major difference between them is that they differ in

A) species richness.
B) relative species abundance.
C) that Community A has more primary producers than does Community B.
D) that Community B has more primary producers than does Community A.

Question

In comparing Communities A and B below,the major difference between them is that they differ in

A) species richness. 
B) relative species abundance. 
C) that Community A has more primary producers than does Community B. 
D) that Community B has more primary producers than does Community A.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Communities A and B may have the same number of species, but they differ in the proportion of individuals in each species and in the total number of individuals in the community. This is what relative species abundance measures. Choice A is incorrect because species richness refers to the total number of species in a community, regardless of their abundance. Choice C and D are also incorrect because primary producers are only one subset of species and do not fully capture the overall diversity and relative abundance of species in a community.

In Comparing Communities a and B Below,the Major Difference Between