Species ASpecies BSpecies C
112131
1221 37
1322 40
1518 44
1618 43
1225 42
152740
1729 42
1620 30
1526 38

Calculate the Shannon’s Diversity Index along with the Simpson’s Diversity Index for Species A, Species B and Species C respectively then state which species is more diverse and explain why it is more diverse.                                                               

CALCULATIONS

 SPECIES A

A) Shannon – Weiner Index

H1=[NlnN-∑(ni ln ni)]/ N

where N is the total number of species and ni is the number of individuals in species.

For species A

N=11+12+13+15+16+12+15+17+16+15=142

For species A

Species A
ni=11
ni=12
ni=13
ni=15
ni=16
ni=12
ni=15
ni=17
ni=16
ni=15

B) SIMPSON’ DIVERSITY

Species A

N is the total number of species in the sample and ni is the total number of individual species .

From the above calculation N is equal to 142 and ni is shown in the table below-

Species A
ni=11
ni=12
ni=13
ni=15
ni=16
ni=12
ni=15
ni=17
ni=16
ni=15

SPECIES B

a) Shannon – Weiner Index

H1=NlnN-∑(ni ln ni)/ N

where N is the total number of species and ni is the number of individuals in species.

For Species b N=21+21+22+18+18+25+27+29+20+26=227

Species B
ni=21
ni=21
ni=22
ni=18
ni=18
ni=25
ni=27
ni=29
ni=20
ni=26

SPECIES B

SIMPSON’ DIVERSITY

b) N is the total number of species in the sample and ni is the total number of individual species.

From the above calculation N is equal to 227 and ni is shown in the table below-

Species B
ni=21
ni=21
ni=22
ni=18
ni=18
ni=25
ni=27
ni=29
ni=20
ni=26

SPECIES C

a) Shannon – Weiner Index

H1=NlnN-∑(ni ln ni)/ N

where N is the total number of species and ni is the number of individuals in species.

For species c N =31+37+40+44+43+42+40+42+30+38=387

SPECIES C
ni=31
ni  = 37
ni  =40
n=44
n=43
ni  =42
ni =40
ni  =42
ni  =30
ni  =38

SPECIES C

b) SIMPSON’ DIVERSITY

 N is the total number of species in the sample and ni is the total number of individual species.

I have found N to be 387 from the above the calculation.

SPECIES C
ni=31
ni  = 37
ni  =40
n=44
n=43
ni  =42
ni =40
ni  =42
ni  =30
ni  =38

The compliment to SIMPSONS D, the value is  –

1-0.092=0.908

Species A is more diverse .

The value of Simpson’s D ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 representing infinite diversity and 1 representing no diversity, so the larger the value of D , the lower the diversity. For this reason, Simpson’s index is usually expressed as its inverse (1/D) or its compliment (1-D).

Using the inverse, the value of this index starts with 1 as the lowest possible figure. The higher the value of this inverse index the greater the diversity.

The higher value of the inverse index is species A which is 10.4932

Therefore the  more diverse species is species A.

author avatar
William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)
William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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