Measures of biological or species diversity are central to ecology and conservation biology. Although there are several commonly used indices, each has shortcomings and all vary in the relative emphasis they place on the number of species and their relative abundance. We propose utilizing Fisher Information, not as a replacement for existing indices, but as a supplement to other indices because it is sensitive to community structure. We demonstrate how Shannon's and Simpson's diversity indices quantify the diversity of two different systems and how Fisher Information can enhance the analyses by comparing, as example, body size, and phylogenetic diversity of the different communities. Fisher Information is sensitive to the order in which species are entered into the analysis, and therefore, it can detect differences in community structure. Thus, the Fisher Information index can be useful in helping understand and analyze biodiversity of ecosystems and in comparing ecological communities.

中文翻译：

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现有评估生态系统群落结构方法的补充工具

生物或物种多样性的测量是生态学和保护生物学的核心。虽然有几个常用的指数，但每个指数都有缺点，并且在对物种数量和相对丰度的相对重视方面各不相同。我们建议利用 Fisher 信息，而不是作为现有指数的替代品，而是作为其他指数的补充，因为它对社区结构很敏感。我们展示了香农和辛普森的多样性指数如何量化两个不同系统的多样性，以及 Fisher Information 如何通过比较不同群落的体型和系统发育多样性等来增强分析。Fisher Information 对物种进入分析的顺序很敏感，因此，它可以检测群落结构的差异。