How is species richness defined?

Species richness is defined as the number of different species in a community. This metric is essential in ecology because it provides a quantitative measure of biodiversity, which is crucial for understanding ecosystem health, stability, and resilience. High species richness often correlates with various ecosystem functions, such as productivity and nutrient cycling, as more diverse communities tend to support more complex interactions and ecological processes.

In contrast, total organism count pertains to overall abundance but does not reflect the diversity of species present. The variety of ecosystems in a biome relates more to ecological classification rather than the individual species present. Lastly, focusing on the abundance of a specific species only captures a small aspect of biodiversity and ignores the broader spectrum of species within a community.