Metrics for describing biodiversity

[lolaholcomb]

All of this information was super interesting, and admittedly over my head at times. My background is not in ecology at all, so I have limited knowledge of all this stuff. But I'm really enjoying learning all the theory! Some questions:

• How often are histograms found in the literature? They're easy to make, and to read, but with the binning issue I'm wondering if reviewers (or the ecologist community in general) frown upon using them.
• Along that same vein, is there a graphical analysis method that is considered "the best?"

Another thought: it's very scary and concerning that some such statistical methods and mathematical frameworks for studying SAD were developed my eugenicists. I often think of math and numbers as being the ultimate form of objectivity. But because we (humans) are the ones who write, teach, and develop math, I suppose that renders the field prone to our subjective opinions and ethical beliefs. Just makes me think -- can math hold bias (racism, sexism, etc.)? And to what extent? And how do we go about acknowledging and changing?