What do you mean by alpha diversity, Biology

Assignment Help:

Q. What do you mean by Alpha diversity?

Alpha (a) richness refers to the number of species found in small, homogenous area. Alpha diversity refers to the diversity in a particular area or ecosystem and is usually expressed by the number of species (i.e. species richness) in that ecosystem.

Alpha diversity is characterised by several widespread patterns that are characteristic of most taxa and are strongly correlated with physical environmental gradients. For example,

· Marine and terrestrial environments in tropical regions have more species of higher taxonomic groups than those in higher latitude communities.

· Richness of species in terms of most taxa is positively correlated with habitat structural complexity.

· Structurally simple habitats like open oceans, grasslands, etc. generally support fewer species than structurally complex communities such as forests and coral reefs. In the open oceans maximum richness of most groups is found at depths between 2000-4000 m. In contrast coral species richness peaks at depths between 15-30 m because corals obtain their energy from photosynthetic organisms embedded in their tissues, and are thus confined to the photic zone.

· Island communities are poor in species than comparable mainland communities.


Related Discussions:- What do you mean by alpha diversity

Scope of dental implantology, From the above reading you must have understo...

From the above reading you must have understood how Dental implants have come into existence. Dental Implants are the future in dentistry and are becoming more and more widely used

Describe false negaive tests, Q. Describe False Negaive Tests? When pat...

Q. Describe False Negaive Tests? When patients are found to have significant coronary narrowing and fail to have exercise induced ST depression, they have been labeled false ne

How to make a 200 ml single solution, You have a 1M KCl stock solution and ...

You have a 1M KCl stock solution and a 85 mg/ml sulphuric acid stock solution. How will you make a 200 ml single solution containing 20mM KCl and 18 mg/ml sulphuric acid?

Define about the spectral techniques - colorimetry, Define about the Spectr...

Define about the Spectral Techniques - Colorimetry? Many determinations in the biochemistry laboratory are based on measurements of radiant energy emitted, transmitted, absorbe

Explain proteins as lubricants, Explain Proteins as lubricants? The muc...

Explain Proteins as lubricants? The mucous of the respiratory tract, oral cavity, vaginal tract and the rectal cavity reduces the irritation which might be caused by materials

A light microscope with unlimited resolution, Theoretically you can build a...

Theoretically you can build a light microscope with unlimited magnification, but can you build a light microscope with unlimited resolution? Why or why not? (Hint: what really cont

Cell coat, what is the job of the cell coat?

what is the job of the cell coat?

Amoeboid tapetum - tapetum, Amoeboid Tapetum - Tapetum It is also know...

Amoeboid Tapetum - Tapetum It is also known as invasive or periplus modial tapetum. This type of tapetum is more prevalent in the monocotyledons (Arum) than in the dicotyledon

Discuss about nerve to mylohyoid, Nerve to Mylohyoid Motor branch of i...

Nerve to Mylohyoid Motor branch of inferior dental nerve which descends in a groove on the medial surface of the mandibular ramus. Surgical intervention in this area may lead

Define aerobic respiration, Where in mitochondria does the process called r...

Where in mitochondria does the process called respiratory chain happen? Which are the products of the Krebs cycle used in that final phase of the aerobic respiration? Respirat

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd