A Multiple-community Overlap Measure Based on a Probabilistic Approach

Abstract

Species diversity indices are designed to measure the species diversity of a community and to compare the species distribution structure of two communities. The Shannon and Simpson indices are for describing one community, and the Jaccard and Morisita indices are for comparing two communities. Only a few indices allow the simultaneous comparison of three or more communities. In this study, we propose a multiple-community similarity index based on a probabilistic approach, and compare it with other multiple-community indices. Empirical examples are considered as a demonstration of the proposed similarity indices.

Keywords:

• Delta method
• Jaccard index
• Maximum likelihood estimator
• Shannon index
• Similarity index
• Simpson index
• Species diversity

Mathematics Subject Classification:

• 62P10
• 62P12