1. What is Simpson's Diversity Index?

Simpson's Diversity Index (D) measures the biodiversity of a habitat. It represents the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to different species. The index ranges from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (infinite diversity).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Simpson's Diversity Index formula:

Where:

• \( n_i \) — Number of individuals of species i
• \( N \) — Total number of individuals
• \( \sum \) — Sum over all species

Explanation: The index calculates the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different species, with higher values indicating greater diversity.

3. Importance of Diversity Measurement

Details: Simpson's Index is widely used in ecology to assess habitat health, monitor conservation efforts, and compare biodiversity across different ecosystems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter comma-separated counts of individuals per species (e.g., "5,8,12,3"). All values must be positive integers representing the number of individuals observed for each species.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a Simpson's Index of 0.8 mean?
A: An index of 0.8 means there's an 80% chance that two randomly selected individuals will belong to different species, indicating high diversity.

Q2: How does Simpson's Index differ from Shannon Index?
A: Simpson's Index emphasizes dominant species, while Shannon Index gives more weight to rare species. Both provide complementary diversity measures.

Q3: What is considered a "good" diversity value?
A: Values closer to 1 indicate higher diversity, but interpretation depends on the ecosystem type and comparison with similar habitats.

Q4: Can I use decimal values for species counts?
A: No, species counts should be whole numbers representing actual observed individuals in the sample.

Q5: What if I get a negative value?
A: Simpson's Index should never be negative. If you get a negative value, check your input data for errors.