Enough Is Enough? Searching for the Optimal Sample Size to Monitor European Habitats: A Case Study from Coastal Sand Dunes

摘要: A robust survey method that samples the main characteristics of plant assemblages is needed to assess conservation status European habitat in Natura 2000 network. measure variability, called pseudo-multivariate dissimilarity-based standard error (MultSE), was recently proposed for assessing sample-size adequacy ecological communities. Here, we used it on coastal sand dune systems three Special Areas Conservation (SACs) Tuscany. Our aim minimum number replicates necessary adequately characterize environments terms differences between habitats and SACs, after a preliminary baseline assessment diversity. Analysis α β diversity indicated especially SACs protect different The study MultSE profiles showed among varied 10 25 plots. Two-way PERMANOVA SIMPER analysis full reduced datasets confirmed host communities, contribution target species remained unchanged even with sample size. methodological approach can be develop cost-effective monitoring programs useful ecologists biodiversity managers ecosystem health changes.