kogumiskõverad

Kogumiskõverad, often translated as accumulation curves, are graphical representations used in various scientific fields, particularly in ecology and biology, to assess the completeness of a species or sample collection. They plot the cumulative number of unique species encountered against the cumulative sampling effort. The sampling effort can be measured in various ways, such as the number of individuals collected, the area surveyed, or the time spent sampling.

The shape of a kogumiskõver provides valuable insights into the sampling process. Initially, the curve typically rises steeply as new species are discovered with each additional sampling unit. As sampling continues, the rate at which new species are found generally decreases, causing the curve to flatten out. A well-established kogumiskõver that is approaching a plateau suggests that most of the species present in the studied area or community have likely been captured. Conversely, a curve that continues to rise steeply indicates that the sampling effort is insufficient and a significant number of species are likely still undiscovered.

These curves are instrumental in determining whether sufficient sampling has been conducted to adequately represent the biodiversity of a particular site or to compare the richness of different communities. They help researchers make informed decisions about the need for further sampling, the optimal sampling design, and the reliability of species richness estimates. While primarily used for species richness, kogumiskõverad can also be adapted to track the accumulation of other quantifiable features within a dataset.