In previous descriptions, the Shannon Wiener index was mostly calculated using multiple degrees of data, and in some papers coverage was used. I want to know if i can use species biomass data to calculate Shannon-Wiener Index?
As others have said: the straightforward answer is "yes".
You can use the Shannon index with numbers, biomass, percent cover or any other measure. However, mixing measures (e.g. biomass for some species, numbers for others) will cause trouble and you should not try comparing an index value calculated from biomass data with one calculated from numbers. However, you also should not compare numerical values of the index across studies that used different protocols for data preparation, so number/biomass comparisons should never arise.
Also: If you calculate values of the Shannon index, you should present them in the "Exponential Shannon" form: exp(H). That corrects some very misleading behaviour of the original index.
Yes, but what the result you want to achieve? May be some index of equitability (evenness) will be enough and clearer for evaluation?
This index (SW) is a complex indicator that depends on two variables - species number and equitability. I used it for the trophic structure analysis of communities of planktonic ciliates (look my articles in Hydrob J). As well can be fine for other indicators of functional activity (production and decomposition).
Andrey
Yes, you can use either number of individuals OR amount (biomass) when calculating the SW Index :)
этот вопрос подробно рассмотрен здесь:
Розенберг Г.С. Информационный индекс и разнообразие: Больцман, Котельников, Шеннон, Уивер // Самарская Лука: проблемы региональной и глобальной экологии. 2010. № 19 (2). С. 4-25.
Статья в открытом доступе. Например в киберленинке: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/informatsionnyy-indeks-i-raznoobrazie-boltsman-kotelnikov-shennon-uiver
As others have said: the straightforward answer is "yes".
You can use the Shannon index with numbers, biomass, percent cover or any other measure. However, mixing measures (e.g. biomass for some species, numbers for others) will cause trouble and you should not try comparing an index value calculated from biomass data with one calculated from numbers. However, you also should not compare numerical values of the index across studies that used different protocols for data preparation, so number/biomass comparisons should never arise.
Also: If you calculate values of the Shannon index, you should present them in the "Exponential Shannon" form: exp(H). That corrects some very misleading behaviour of the original index.
Yes you can. In the R package Entropart for instance, use a proportion vector instead of an absolute abundance vector. best,
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