Simpson’s Diversity Index is a quantitative measure used in ecology to assess the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to different species. It captures both species richness (the number of species) and evenness (how evenly individuals are distributed among those species).
The index is calculated using the formula below, which compares the observed distribution of individuals across species to a perfectly even distribution. A higher value indicates greater diversity, while a value close to zero suggests dominance by one or few species.
Interpreting the result is straightforward: values range from 0 to 1. Values nearer to 1 reflect a community with many species that are equally abundant, whereas values approaching 0 indicate low diversity, often dominated by a single species.
What is Simpson's Diversity Index?
How do I use this calculator?
What does a higher Simpson's Diversity Index indicate?
Can I use this calculator for any type of data?
What is the range of Simpson's Diversity Index values?
How does this calculator differ from other diversity indices?
What is the formula for Simpson's Diversity Index?
Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.
