diversity indices

Diversity indices are tools scientists use to measure how varied a community is, such as the types of plants in a forest or species in a lake. They consider both the number of different species (richness) and how evenly individuals are spread among them (evenness). A higher index value indicates greater diversity, meaning many species with balanced populations. These indices help us understand ecosystem health, resilience, and the impact of environmental changes, providing a quantitative way to compare different communities or track changes over time.