Microbial community assembly

Question 1

define alpha vs beta vs gamma diversity

Answer 1

alpha diversity: species diversity at a single site (one scoop dirt)

beta diversity: species diversity among sites at the same type (how different are the 2 scoops of dirt).

gamma diversity: species diversity among different landscapes.

Question 2

what creates functional redundancy ?

Answer 2

• many species capable of performing the same function

there is a correlation between species richness/diversity and functional diversity. a species rich community is not always functionally diverse, and a species poor community is not necessarily functionally constrained.

Question 3

what is community assembly?

Answer 3

the processes that shape the identity and abundance of species within ecological communities.

Question 4

what are the 4 environmental filters?

Answer 4

1. species pool (species mist be physically in the pool or organisms)
2. dispersal filter: species needs to come out of the global species pool and come into your habitat.
3. environmental filter: species must be able to survive in your habitat.
4. interaction filter: species must be competitive in its environment.

Question 5

define deterministic assembly

Answer 5

• the community will look the same each time based on the environmental filters.
• if the condition is very salty, the community will be similar to other very salty places.

Question 6

define stochastic assembly:

Answer 6

• community will look different with more neutral environmental filters (less extreme environments)
• more random

Question 7

spatially heterogenous vs spatially homogenous habitats in term of community diversity?

Answer 7

-spatially heterogenous habitats: more diverse community than exected.

• spatially homogenous habitats: less diverse community than exected, similar to deterministic.