1. What is the Shannon Diversity Index?

The Shannon Diversity Index (H) is a measure of diversity that considers both species richness and evenness. It quantifies the uncertainty in predicting the species of an individual chosen at random from the community.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Shannon Diversity Index formula:

Where:

• \( p_i \) — Proportion of individuals belonging to species i
• \( \ln \) — Natural logarithm

Explanation: The index increases as both the number of species and the evenness of their proportions increase.

3. Importance of Diversity Measurement

Details: The Shannon Index is widely used in ecology, information theory, and various fields to quantify diversity and uncertainty in systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter proportions separated by commas. All proportions must be between 0 and 1, and the sum of all proportions must equal 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good Shannon Diversity Index value?
A: Higher values indicate greater diversity. Typically, values range from 1.5 to 3.5 in most ecological communities.

Q2: How does this differ from Simpson's Diversity Index?
A: Shannon Index is more sensitive to rare species, while Simpson's Index gives more weight to common species.

Q3: Can the index be used for non-ecological applications?
A: Yes, it's widely used in information theory, economics, and other fields to measure diversity and uncertainty.

Q4: What does a value of 0 mean?
A: A value of 0 indicates no diversity - only one species is present in the community.

Q5: Are there limitations to this index?
A: The index assumes random sampling and may be sensitive to sample size. It doesn't account for species identity or phylogenetic relationships.