Question

Enlist various types of species diversity.

Answer 1

Species diversity:

Species diversity is defined as the number of different species present in an ecosystem and the relative abundance of each of those species.

The various types of species diversity given by Whittaker are:

Point diversity:

1. It refers to diversity on the smallest scale such as the diversity of microhabitats or from within a homogenous habitat.
2. For example - A leaf or a flower.

Alpha diversity:

1. It refers to the variety of organisms occurring in a particular habitat.
2. Example - A single plant.

Gamma diversity:

1. This refers to the diversity of a larger unit such as a landscape or island.
2. It can also be defined as the overall diversity of a group of areas of alpha diversity.
3. Example - A group of plants occurring together.

Epsilon diversity:

1. It applies to large biogeographic areas.
2. It includes the diversity of a group of areas of gamma diversity.
3. Example - The forest within which the plants are located.