The Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index takes into account: (A) Richness of all species (B) Richness of only endemic species (C) Richness of only invasive species (D) Equitability (E) Genetic diversity
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

Explanation:
The Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index (also known as the Shannon Index or Shannon Entropy) is a measure used in ecology to quantify the biodiversity of a community. It accounts for:
· (A) Species richness – the total number of species present.
· (D) Equitability (evenness) – how evenly individuals are distributed among the species.
The formula is:

Where:
· pi​ = proportion of individuals belonging to species i
This index increases with both richness and evenness.
Information Booster:
· The Shannon index does not focus on specific groups like endemic or invasive species — it includes all species present in the community.
· It is widely used in ecological studies to compare biodiversity across different habitats.
Additional Information:
· (B) and (C) are incorrect: The index is not restricted to certain species types.
· (E) is incorrect: It does not measure genetic diversity, which is a separate concept from species diversity.