Understanding Biodiversity Metrics

Biodiversity is evaluated through two primary metrics: richness and evenness, which refer to the number of species in a location and the distribution of individuals among those species. A location could have numerous species, but if a majority are concentrated in one or two, the biodiversity would be low. Accurate modeling of these metrics can inform predictions about potential habitats for specific organisms by considering various abiotic factors like temperature and elevation. Additionally, this understanding emphasizes the importance of maintaining biodiversity for successful ecosystem functioning and the services they provide.