The term alpha diversity refers to
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Genetic diversity
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Community and ecosystem diversity
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Species diversity
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None of the above
Reveal answer
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B
Correct answer
Explanation
Whittaker's idea was that the total species diversity in a landscape is the gamma diversity and is determined by two different things, the mean species diversity in sites or habitats at a more local scale is an alpha diversity and the differentiation among those habitats is the beta diversity.
Alpha diversity was defined by Whittaker (1972) as the species richness of a place. However, the practical development of this concept led to redefine the alpha diversity on the basis of the structure of the community.
Thus, the correct answer is option B.