Diversity measurement combining relative abundances and taxonomic distinctiveness of species

Abstract

We discuss a diversity measure combining information of relative abundances and taxonomic distinctiveness suggested by Ricotta (2004). We show that Ricotta's measure violates weak species monotonicity, a condition that requires that the addition of a species should always increase a diversity index if abundances change only marginally. We suggest an alternative index satisfying weak species monotonicity and apply it to the 'Zeesserveld' forest reserve in the Netherlands. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.