Abstract
THE 'characteristic' defined by Yule1 and the 'index of diversity' defined by Fisher2 are two measures of the degree of concentration or diversity achieved when the individuals of a population are classified into groups. Both are defined as statistics to be calculated from sample data and not in terms of population constants. The index of diversity has so far been used chiefly with the logarithmic distribution. It cannot be used everywhere, as it does not always give values which are independent of sample size ; it cannot do so, for example, when applied to an infinite population of individuals classified into a finite number of groups. Williams3 has pointed out a relationship between the characteristic and the index of diversity when both are applied to a logarithmic distribution. The present purpose is to define and examine a measure of concentration in terms of population constants.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Yule, "Statistical Study of Literary Vocabulary" (Cambridge, 1944).
Fisher, Corbet and Williams, J. Animal Ecol., 12, 42 (1943).
Williams, Nature, 157, 482 (1946).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SIMPSON, E. Measurement of Diversity. Nature 163, 688 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163688a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/163688a0
This article is cited by
-
Potential distribution and ecological impacts of Acmella radicans (Jacquin) R.K. Jansen (a new Yunnan invasive species record) in China
BMC Plant Biology (2024)
-
Yeast mannan rich fraction positively influences microbiome uniformity, productivity associated taxa, and lay performance
Animal Microbiome (2024)
-
Smallholder aquaculture diversifies livelihoods and diets thus improving food security status: evidence from northern Zambia
Agriculture & Food Security (2024)
-
A unique prokaryotic vertical distribution in the groundwaters of deep sedimentary geological settings in Hokkaido, Japan
Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (2024)
-
Differences in gut microbiota between Dutch and South-Asian Surinamese: potential implications for type 2 diabetes mellitus
Scientific Reports (2024)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.