本篇論文主要探討的主題是集中在Jost(2007) 所定義的多樣性指標，首先在多樣性指標的使用上必須滿足包括了獨立性的五個假設，因此除了回顧這些假設之外，本文提出了以圖形表示的方法幫助驗証指標之間的獨立性質是否成立。另外，在Jost(2007) 所定義的多樣性指標當中，提出以動差的觀點解釋之，並且在此觀點之下証明只需了解有限個q值所對應的多樣性指標，即可充份表達其多樣性，因此，回顧了q=1及q=2兩個點的β多樣性指標估計方法，在僅考慮物種相對豐富度的觀點之下，文中以兩群落為例利用電腦模擬方式比較各種估計方法的優劣。實例分析方面，針對美國康乃迪克大學Chazdon, R.L. 教授所提供之哥斯大黎加森林資料，分析不同生長年齡的森林以及不同樹層內樹種的β多樣性，利用多樣性指標與相似度指標的轉換，以群落相似程度的觀點在三座森林中兩兩群落、三群落的比較之下，驗証生態學家對森林演化的假說。

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