Berger Parker Index Calculator

Berger Parker Index Calculator calculator can be used to measure species diversity in ecological communities by calculating the concentration of individuals in the most abundant species.

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Berger Parker Index (dBP)

0.00

Where:
dBP = -ln(1 - (Nmax / Σni))
where ni is the number of individuals in the i-th most abundant species

Berger Parker Index Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the Berger Parker Index Calculator calculator and its working principles

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter the total number of species in your ecological community in the "Total Number of Species" field.
  2. Enter the maximum number of individuals found in any single species in the "Maximum Number of Individuals in a Species" field.
  3. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the Berger Parker Index.
  4. The result will be displayed in the Berger Parker Index field.

Understanding the Berger Parker Index

The Berger Parker Index (dBP) is a measure of species diversity that emphasizes the concentration of individuals in the most abundant species. It ranges from 0 (for maximum diversity) to 1 (for minimum diversity).

Interpreting the Results

  • A value of 0 indicates maximum diversity, where no single species dominates the community.
  • A value of 1 indicates minimum diversity, where one species dominates the community.
  • Values between 0 and 1 indicate varying degrees of dominance, with higher values indicating more dominance by one or a few species.

Example

For example, if you have 10 species in your community and the most abundant species has 100 individuals, while all other species have fewer than 100 individuals, you would enter 10 for the total number of species and 100 for the maximum number of individuals.