BIOL 2310 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Gamma Diversity, Alpha Diversity, Beta Diversity
Document Summary
Ecosystem- different biological communities and their abiotic interactions with the environment. Include processes like water cycles and nutrient cycles. Physical environment affects structure of biological communities. Alpha diversity=# of species in a certain place. Gamma diversity=# of species in the broader geographical region. Beta diversity links them and describes the uniqueness of diversity in a given area. Genetic diversity is affected by reproductive behaviour. Determining # of different alleles for any given gene. Rare species have less genetic diversity than common ones. Species that lack genetic diversity are vulnerable to extinction. Genetic diversity is needed for species to maintain reproductive vitality, resist disease, and adapt to changing conditions. How many different roles are present in an ecosystem. Greater # of biodiversity in areas with low elevation, greater solar radiation, higher rainfall. The more geologically complex a region, the more environmental variation.
