- Gamma diversity
Gamma diversity (γ-diversity) is a measure of
biodiversity . It refers to the total biodiversity over a large area or region. It is the total of α and β diversity.According to Whittaker (1972), gamma diversity is the richness in species of a range of habitats in a geographic area (e.g.,a landscape, an island) and it is consequent on the alpha diversity of the individual communities and the range of differentiation or beta diversity among them. Like alpha diversity, it is a quality which simply has magnitude, not direction and can be represented by a single number (a scalar).
The internal relationship between alpha, beta and gamma diversity can be represented as
ee also
*
Diversity index
*Alpha diversity
*Beta diversity
*Global diversity References
* Whittaker, R. H. (1972). "Evolution and Measurement of Species Diversity". "Taxon", 21 (2/3), 213-251.
* Henderson, P.A. (2003). "Practical Methods in Ecology". Blackwell Publishing, United Kingdom.
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