alpha-diversity beta-diversity rarefaction curves

Question

[agata88]

Hi all,

I am new in this kind of analysis. Maybe somebody could explain me (like for a child) what is exactly alpha-diversity, beta-diversity and rarefaction curves?

I've made some plots through qiime alpha_rarefaction.py and I have no idea what those tables present. I see that it depends on my mapping file, but how? And what those metrics mean?

I have 20 patients (5 controls and 15 with disease). I would like to compare the results from otu_table.biom I've created first.

I would appreciate for any suggestions,

Best,

Agata