Richness counts species; evenness describes how equally individuals are distributed among them.
Two communities may have equal richness but different evenness. Rarefaction curves compare richness for equal sample sizes.
Rarefaction standardises sampling. Rank-abundance curves visualise dominance.
Remember: a high richness does not mean even communities.
Richness counts species; evenness describes how equally individuals are distributed among them.
Species Richness and Evenness is one of the 52 topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Simpson and Shannon Indices, Biodiversity, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function.
A forest with 10 species at equal abundance is more even than one with 10 species where one is 90 percent of individuals.
Work through the Beginner topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity first, such as Taxonomy, Binomial Nomenclature, Taxonomic Hierarchy, then return to Species Richness and Evenness. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Species Richness and Evenness are Simpson and Shannon Indices, Biodiversity, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, Species-Area Relationship. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Species Richness and Evenness. To practise the whole of Taxonomy & Biodiversity, use the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz.
Species Richness and Evenness: Richness counts species; evenness describes how equally individuals are distributed among them. Simpson and Shannon Indices: Mathematical measures that combine richness and abundance to quantify diversity. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Simpson and Shannon Indices and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Mathematical measures that combine richness and abundance to quantify diversity.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityThe variety of life at the level of genes, species and ecosystems.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityExperiments show richer communities often have higher productivity and stability.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityLarger areas contain more species, commonly following a power law.
🗂️ Taxonomy & Biodiversity