Which term describes the similarity of relative abundance of each species in a community?

The concept that describes the similarity of relative abundance of each species in a community is known as species evenness. Species evenness provides insight into how evenly individuals are distributed among the different species within a given area. A community where all species have a similar number of individuals exhibits high evenness, indicating a balanced ecosystem. Conversely, if one or a few species dominate the community while others are present in very low numbers, the evenness is low.

This term is often used in conjunction with species richness, which refers to the number of different species present in a community. While species richness focuses solely on the count of species, species evenness emphasizes the distribution of individuals among those species, providing a more nuanced understanding of ecological balance and diversity. Therefore, species evenness is a critical aspect of ecological studies and assessments of biodiversity in a community.