Question

Differentiate between the following:

Beta and Gamma diversity

Answer 1

Basis of Difference	Beta Diversity	Gamma Diversity
Meaning	Beta diversity is the diversity between communities along a habitat or environmental gradient.	Gamma diversity is the diversity of habitats across a large geographical area or total landscape.
Scale	It compares species composition between communities or ecosystems.	It describes diversity across a broad region containing multiple habitats.
Main focus	It focuses on how different the species composition is between communities.	It includes the variety of habitats, niches and trophic levels across the landscape.
Example	The difference in species between a grassland and a forest illustrates beta diversity.	The range of habitats across a large region illustrates gamma diversity.
What greater diversity indicates	Higher beta diversity indicates greater dissimilarity between communities.	Higher gamma diversity indicates a greater variety of habitats and ecological features across the region.