Measures of Niche Overlap, II

Abstract

An axiomatic basis for the construction of measures of niche overlap is analysed, and its implications are discussed, with particular reference to the more commonly used measures. A method of establishing that a measure of overlap complies with the axioms is put forward, making possible the construction of families of new measures. Certain extremal measures of overlap are also identified.

Measures of Niche Overlap, I

“…In Section 5, the problem of estimating overlap from sample data is discussed briefly. The more mathematical aspects of the argument are presented in Gerrard & Barbour (1986), referred to hereafter as Part II.…”