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Beta diversity

Overview

Teaching: 0 min
Exercises: 0 min
Questions
  • What is beta diversity and how do I calculate it?

  • How can I plot beta diversity and interpret the results?

Objectives
  • Understand what beta diversity means from an ecology standpoint

  • Understand the most common methods of beta diversity calculations, including their relative strengths and weaknesses

  • Be able to plot beta diversity and interpret the results

  • Be able to perform cluster analysis on beta diversity and interpret the results

Exercise: Describe what Beta Diversity means from an ecology standpoint. (In an Etherpad?) Exercise: Calculate beta diversity using Bray-Curtis ordination and plot Exercise: Calculate beta diversity with Weighted/Unweighted Unifrac and NMDS and plot. Explain the differences amongn them Exercise: Perform cluster analysis on the above beta diversities to identify clusters in the data

Key Points

  • Beta diversity measures the diversity between samples in a dataset

  • The most common beta diversity measures are Bray-Curtis, Weighted/Unweighted Unifrac, and NMDS

  • Beta diversity is usually displayed as a principal coordinates plot

  • Cluster analysis can identify groups of samples, but care must be taken to be sure the groups are meaningful