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

State in brief about the zinc, State in brief about the Zinc    It is c...

State in brief about the Zinc    It is concerned with the functioning of sulphydryl compounds, such as cysteine, in regulation of redox potential within the cell. Zinc is somet

Explain mixture in basic chemistry, Explain mixture in basic chemistry? ...

Explain mixture in basic chemistry? Mixtures :  Mixtures are produced by combining two or more substances. In contrast to the substances in compounds, the substances that com

Blood coagulation, BLOOD COAGULATION -   DEFINITIO N - The pro...

BLOOD COAGULATION -   DEFINITIO N - The property of blood to change from fluid to gel state within a few minutes of its coming in contact with air is called blood coag

Late recurrence of artgirza--recurrence of angina, Late recurrence of a...

Late recurrence of artgirza: This is a reflection of progress of disease in the native coronary arteries distal to the grafts or narrowing or blockage of one or more of the g

Severity of heat treatment for pasteurization depends on, Define on which s...

Define on which severity of heat treatment for pasteurization depends? The severity of heat treatment for pasteurization depends on: 1.  Heat resistance of target microorgan

Transmissible gastroenteritis of swine, Transmissible gastroenteritis of sw...

Transmissible gastroenteritis of swine The disease, first reported from the USA in 1964, is caused by antigenic group 1 mamalian coronavirus, a member of genus Coronavirus of

Express the term - aboral surface, In radially symmetric animals there is n...

In radially symmetric animals there is no posterior, or anterior, right sides to the animal. Rather we refer to two sides of the animal by referring to the location of the mouth. I

Circulatory system transports gases, Q. What are the three kinds of respira...

Q. What are the three kinds of respiration in which the circulatory system transports gases? The circulatory system has an important role in branchial respiration, cutaneous re

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