1. What is the Shannon Biodiversity Index?

The Shannon Index (H) is a measure of biodiversity that accounts for both species richness (number of species) and evenness (distribution of individuals among species). It was developed by Claude Shannon in 1948 and is widely used in ecology.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Shannon Index equation:

Where:

• \( H \) — Shannon biodiversity index
• \( n_i \) — Number of individuals of species i
• \( N \) — Total number of individuals of all species
• \( \ln \) — Natural logarithm

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

3. Importance of Biodiversity Measurement

Details: The Shannon Index helps ecologists quantify biodiversity, compare different habitats, and monitor changes in ecosystems over time.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter counts of individuals for each species, separated by commas. All values must be positive integers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good Shannon Index value?
A: Typically ranges between 1.5 and 3.5 in most ecological studies, with higher values indicating greater diversity.

Q2: How does this differ from Simpson's Index?
A: Shannon Index is more sensitive to rare species, while Simpson's Index emphasizes dominant species.

Q3: What's the maximum possible Shannon Index?
A: The maximum is ln(S) where S is the number of species, achieved when all species are equally abundant.

Q4: When should I use Shannon Index vs. other diversity measures?
A: Use when you want to account for both species richness and evenness. For simple richness counts, use species count.

Q5: Can I compare indices from different studies?
A: Only if sampling methods were identical, as the index is sensitive to sample size and methodology.