Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Species richness is the number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape, or region. It provides a simple measure of biodiversity and helps in understanding the health and stability of ecosystems.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Species richness is influenced by factors such as habitat diversity, climate, and disturbances.
It is often used alongside species evenness to provide a more complete picture of biodiversity.
High species richness typically indicates a resilient and stable ecosystem.
Methods to measure species richness include direct counting, sampling techniques, and mathematical models.
Species richness can be affected by human activities like deforestation, pollution, and urbanization.
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Related terms
Species Evenness: Measures how equal the abundances of different species are in an ecosystem.
Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Ecological Community: A group of interacting species living in the same area.