QUANTITATIVE METHOD FOR DETERMINING A REPRESENTATIVE ALGAL SAMPLE COUNT

A method for determining a representative count of a sample dependent on number of species is presented for application to various algal com munities. constant species curves are calculated as efficiency = (numb er of individuals - number of species)/number of individuals and diagr ammed on a plot of efficiency versus number of individuals counted. Ef ficiency is defined as the probability that a new species encountered is minimal. That is, as the ratio of number of species to number of in dividuals approaches 1, more individuals will need to be counted in or der to achieve a representative count. Data and calculations of effici ency from two algal communities are presented for illustration.