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# skbio.diversity.alpha.fisher_alpha

`skbio.diversity.alpha.``fisher_alpha`(counts)

  Calculate Fisher’s alpha, a metric of diversity.

  State: Experimental as of 0.4.0.

  Fisher’s alpha is estimated by solving the following equation for \(\alpha\):

  \[S=\alpha\ln(1+\frac{N}{\alpha})\]

  where \(S\) is the number of OTUs and \(N\) is the total number of individuals in the sample.

  Parameters: | counts (1-D array_like, int) – Vector of counts.
  Returns: | Fisher’s alpha.
  Return type: | double
  Raises: | `RuntimeError` – If the optimizer fails to converge (error > 1.0).

  Notes

  The implementation here is based on the description given in the SDR-IV online manual [1]. Uses `scipy.optimize.minimize_scalar` to find Fisher’s alpha.

  References

  [1] | http://www.pisces-conservation.com/sdrhelp/index.html