Beta diversity

Expects two or more columns (samples) of presence-absence (0/1) data, with taxa in rows.

The beta diversity module in Past can be used for any number of samples (not limited to only two samples). The eight measures available are described in Koleff et al. (2003), for mathematical details see the Past manual:

• Whittaker b_w (Whittaker 1960)
• Harrison b_-1 (Harrison et al. 1992)
• Cody b_c (Cody 1975)
• Routledge b_I (Routledge 1977)
• Wilson-Shmida b_t (Wilson & Shmida 1984)
• Mourelle b_me (Mourelle & Ezcurra 1997)
• Harrison 2 b_-2 (Harrison et al. 1992)
• Williams b_-3 (Williams 1996)

References

Harrison, S., S.J. Ross & J.H. Lawton. 1992. Beta diversity on geographic gradients in Britain. Journal of Animal Ecology 61:151-158.

Koleff, P., K.J. Gaston & J.J. Lennon. 2003. Measuring beta diversity for presence-absence data. Journal of Animal Ecology 72:367-382.

Routledge, R.D. 1977. On Whittaker’s components of diversity. Ecology 58:1120-1127.

Whittaker, R.H. 1960. Vegetation of the Siskiyou mountains, Oregon and California. Ecological Monographs 30:279-338.