Based on the graph, it cans be observed that about 4%, 16%, 16%, 20%, 20%, 24% of the sub-quadrants

contain 5,
1, 4, 0, 3 and 2 seeds, respectively. From these results, it can be inferred that there is a random distribution of the
species as shown by the high fluctuation rates among the number of individuals. This is consistent with the
definition of a random dispersion wherein the distribution of a species does not follow a specific pattern, that is, all
areas in an environment have an equal chance of being occupied by that species. A random dispersion occurs when a
species lacks strong interactions, either repulsion or attraction, with the same species and when it is independent of
other individuals within a population. In addition to this, the lack of variation of environmental condition and
resources within a habitat may allow this kind of spatial distribution. When a species is dispersed, through the aid of
wind, insect, or soil movement, it is able to survive if the environment where it lands has the appropriate amount of
condition and resources (Russell, 2016). Furthermore, in comparison the uniform and clustered dispersion, random
dispersion occurs most seldom in nature. This is because there is always an interaction among the species of the
same kind and abiotic factors may be limiting in some areas in a habitat. These situations result to a clustered or
uniform dispersion (Health, 2002).

4.) Why do you think the values obtained from the VMR and Greens coefficient of dispersion
are indicative of the specific types of dispersion patterns?
Statistical tools such as Variance to Mean ratio and Greens coefficient are used to determine the
types of dispersion patterns. The variance to mass ratio is a normalized measure use to determine
the degree of randomness in a habitat. Firstly, in a uniform dispersal pattern, the number of
species in all the quadrants of a habitat is uniform. This means that there is no randomness with
regards to the distribution of a species. This, in turn, results to a zero variance thus the VMR in a
uniform pattern is equal to zero. Secondly, in a random dispersal pattern, a species is distributed
in a habitat in such a way that no definite pattern is formed. Species occupying a habitat is
randomly distributed so no clusters are formed within the habitat. So, the variance has a close
approximation with the mean thus resulting to a VMR equal to 1. Lastly, in a clustered dispersal
pattern, a large VMR, is expected since the clusters formed by a species may contain different
numbers of that species. That is, some clusters may have low counts whereas others may have
extremely high counts hence, there is a great degree of randomness within a habitat. These results
to a variance larger than the mean, so the computed VMR in a clustered pattern is always greater
than one (Young, 2013).
On the other hand, the Greens coefficient describes the changes is dispersion with density. Similar
to the ratio of Variance to mean, the Greens coefficient may also be used to identify the type of
dispersal pattern. Firstly, a uniform pattern of dispersal is determined by a negative coefficient.
As mentioned beforehand, there is no degree of randomness in a uniform pattern because there is
an even distribution of the species in the areas within a habitat, in turn, this results to a zero
volume to mass ratio. When the computed VMR is inputted in the equation of the Greens
coefficient of dispersal, a negative value is obtained since the zero VMR is subtracted by one.
Secondly, a clustered pattern of dispersal is determined by a positive coefficient. Since a species
forms a cluster within the areas of a habitat, there is a large amount of density per unit area hence
resulting to a positive coefficient. Lastly, a random pattern of dispersal is identified by a
coefficient with a value close to zero. From the computation of volume to mass ratio, it can be
inferred that a random pattern has greater degree of randomness as compared with the uniform
pattern, but lesser when compared with the clustered pattern. When the computed VMR, which is
close to one, is used in the equation of coefficient, a small numerator is obtained therefore
dividing by it the total count of species subtracted by one results to a value of the coefficient close
to zero (Matthews, 1987).
RESOURCES:
Health, D. 2002. An Introduction To Experimental Design And Statistics For
Biology. Florida: CRC Press.

Matthews, C. 1987. New Zealand Journal of Zoology.

Russell, P. 2016. Biology: Dynamic Science. New York: Cengage Learning.

Young, L. 2013. Statistical Ecology. New York: Springer.