Roots, relevance, aims and values
9
Figure B1.2a An illustration of Robert Harding Whittaker ’ s diversity scale framework, showing how each scale of
analysis nests within the next and highlighting the distinction between inventory diversity and differentiation diversity
concepts. Re - drawn from Stoms and Estes (1993) .
Table B1.2b Terminology used in describing diversity patterns at different scales of analysis. This table has
been compiled and modifi ed from various sources, notably R.H. Whittaker (1975, 1977) ; Stoms & Estes (1993) ;
R.J. Whittaker et al. (2001) .
R.H.W. tiers Spatial scale Description
Nature of diversity metric
point
species found at a precise point within a local
community, e.g. contact of grassland plant
species with a pin
inventory
Alpha
local
species richness within local communities/
patches
inventory
Beta
landscape
turnover of species between local
communities within a landscape
differentiation
Gamma
landscape
species richness of whole landscape
inventory
Delta
regional
turnover of species between landscapes along
major gradients of climate and/or physiography
differentiation
Epsilon
regional
the species diversity of a broad region of
differing landscapes
inventory
inter - regional/
inter - provincial
replacement of higher taxa, e.g. placental
mammals by marsupials
differentiation