Richard Price
2007-Sep-23 16:04 UTC
[R] Beginners question about Percentage similarity in R?
I have been reading a paper whereby the authors took values from Sorensons dissimilarity index and values from a percentage similarity index and applies G-Testing to the table of values. This is carried out to assess the differences in spider faunas (Strattton and Uetz, 1979). I like the method but have been trying to work out what function in R to use to get the percentage similarity. I have vegan installed and have been using it. I think R is brilliant. But using the formula... PS=3D2w/(a+b) where w=3Dminimum sum of individuals of species held in common between the samples being compared; a and b =3 the totals of individuals found in either region. I have had trouble working out from the help extract from designdist which of the methods is the percentage. What does it mean when someone says 'minimum sum of individuals of species held in common between samples? Is it the number of species where the count is exactly the same? So, if I collected 14 of A. curbitana from 'site a' and then 14 of A. curbitana from 'site b' than this is a species held in common between the samples? In R how do I calculate this percentage similarity? Thanks, Richard.