I have data of spider populations collected from rice fields located in different areas. At each area four fields of equal size were selected. In three fields insecticides were sprayed while one field act as control. Spider were collected after different days of spray using pitfall traps and vaccum sampler. I want to calculate difference in functional diversity and functional richness in spider population due to application of different insecticides and post sprayed time. can I use minitab or SPSS for this purpose?
Dear Abida,
I think that neither SPSS nor Minitab give facilities to calculate those estimates directly. However it could be done without much trouble if you first decide the formula that you want to apply to estimate diversities (Shannon, Simpson or other) and apply it to your data after sorting the species totals into functional classes according to your criteria.
There is also the possibility to use PAST, which is free and very easy to use. As far as I remember it included subroutines to calculate community and taxonomic diversities, this would take little time; you can paste the data from a spreadsheet, then use the 'diversity' menu. To get PAST, just use e.g. Google to search 'PAST + paleontology + software', it will normally appear as one of the first results.
Good luck!
I have PAST and usually use it for different diversity indices. Can U help me to find free software for functional diversity?
http://www.uvm.edu/~ngotelli/EcoSim/EcoSim.html - This is an useful tool.
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