Question

4. which community has greater species richness? which community has greater species evenness? which community has higher species diversity using the shannon index?

Answer 1

The community with greater species richness is Community A, while Community B exhibits greater species evenness. In terms of species diversity using the Shannon index, Community A has higher diversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

In ecological terms, species richness refers to the total number of different species present in a community. Community A has a higher species richness, as it has more distinct species. On the other hand, species evenness considers how evenly individuals are distributed among the different species. Community B has greater species evenness, indicating a more balanced distribution of individuals among its species.

To calculate the Shannon index for species diversity, we use the formula:

`\[H' = - \sum_(i=1)^(S) p_i \ln(p_i)\]`

where H' is the Shannon index, S is the number of species, and pi is the proportion of individuals belonging to the \(i\)-th species. In Community A, if we have species a, b, and c with proportions pa, pb and
`\(p_c\)`respectively, the Shannon index would be calculated by substituting these values into the formula. The higher the Shannon index, the greater the species diversity.

In summary, Community A has higher species richness, while Community B demonstrates greater species evenness. The Shannon index calculation further supports that Community A exhibits higher species diversity due to a more equitable distribution of individuals among its species.

Complete question:

which community has greater species richness? which community has greater species evenness? which community has higher species diversity using the shannon index?