Why different starter hydrations

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Is there a reason to make starter at one hydration or another, meaning that aside from it changing how much flour and water is used in a formulation, does the crumb or taste vary if the starter is at 50% hydration as compared to 100%? What is the effect of using stiff starter instead of liquid, or vice versa? Jerry
Thanks. The link was helpful, though I was a biology major in college and the article was still challenging. Jerry