What is the Difference Between Alpha Beta and Gamma Diversity?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Alpha, beta, and gamma diversity are three types of biodiversity measures that describe the variety of species at different scales. Here are the key differences between them:
- Alpha Diversity: This refers to the species diversity present within each ecosystem or community on a landscape. It is usually expressed by the number of species (i.e., species richness) in that ecosystem. For example, alpha diversity measures the species richness within a forest or grassland patch on a mountain slope.
- Beta Diversity: Beta diversity describes the species diversity between two communities or ecosystems. It is a comparison of diversity between two separate entities that are often divided by geographical barriers or human land-use. For instance, beta diversity measures the species diversity between any two patches and their communities on a mountain slope.
- Gamma Diversity: Gamma diversity is the species diversity across the entire landscape or a large geographic region. It is a measure of the overall diversity for different ecosystems within a region. For example, gamma diversity would measure the species diversity along the entire range of a mountain slope, including all the different patches of forests and grasslands.
In summary, alpha diversity focuses on the species diversity within a specific ecosystem, beta diversity compares the diversity between different ecosystems, and gamma diversity measures the overall diversity across a large region encompassing multiple ecosystems.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Alpha Beta and Gamma Diversity? Comparative Table: Alpha Beta vs Gamma Diversity
Comparative Table: Alpha Beta vs Gamma Diversity
Here is a table comparing the differences between Alpha, Beta, and Gamma diversity:
Diversity Level | Description | Examples |
---|---|---|
Alpha Diversity | The diversity within a particular area or ecosystem, usually expressed by the number of species (i.e., species richness) in that ecosystem. | The number of bird species in a forest or the number of plant species in a meadow. |
Beta Diversity | A comparison of diversity between ecosystems, usually measured as the amount of species change between the ecosystems. | The species diversity between a woodland and a hedgerow, or between two different forests. |
Gamma Diversity | The diversity of the entire landscape or region, representing the total diversity consisting of all ecosystems within a region. | The total species diversity in a biome or a country. |
In summary:
- Alpha diversity focuses on the diversity within a specific area or ecosystem.
- Beta diversity compares the diversity between different ecosystems.
- Gamma diversity represents the overall diversity across multiple ecosystems within a larger region or landscape.
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