Generalized entropy indices to measure α- and β-diversities of macrophytes

Abstract

A family of entropy indices constructed in the framework of Tsallis entropy formalism is used to investigate ecological diversity. It represents a new perspective in ecology because a simple equation can incorporate all aspects of adiversity, from richness to dominance and can be also related to a measure of species rarity. In addition, a generalized Kullback-Leibler distance, constructed in the framework of a nonextensive formalism, is recalled and used as a measure of β-diversity between two systems. These tools are applied to data relative to the macrophytes collected from two not far apart arms of Itaipu Reservoir, in Paraná River basin.

Renio dos Santos Mendes
Renio dos Santos Mendes
Associate Professor