Calculadora de Índice de Shannon

The Shannon Index Calculator is an ecological tool that measures species diversity in a community. It calculates the Shannon-Wiener Index (H'), which considers both species richness (number of species) and their relative abundance. H' increases with more species and more even distribution. The formula is H' = −Σ(pᵢ × ln(pᵢ)), where pᵢ is the proportion of individuals of species i. The calculator also provides evenness (J), which is H' divided by ln(S), indicating distribution uniformity.

To use, enter the number of individuals for each species (up to 5). Total individuals (N) is auto-calculated. Results show Shannon Index (H'), evenness (J), and proportion of each species. H' typically ranges from 0 to about 4.5, with higher values indicating greater diversity. Evenness ranges from 0 to 1, with 1 being perfectly uniform.

This calculator is useful in ecological studies, environmental monitoring, and conservation planning. For instance, biologists can compare diversity across forests or coral reefs. It is also used in environmental impact assessments. The tool is quick and avoids manual calculation errors.

Cautions: The Shannon Index assumes all species are sampled representatively. It does not distinguish rare from common species in absolute terms. Comparisons across communities with different species numbers should be done carefully; evenness helps. This calculator is limited to 5 species; for larger communities, use specialized software.