Ecology Ch. 22

What type of relationship exists between isolation and species richness? Negative

Which two factors help explain the variation in species diversity across islands? Area of the habitat; isolation of the region

The study of ecological structure and processes at large geographic scales is the definition of geographic ecology

Match the correct species richness with the island distance from the mainland.

101 bird species – 675 km from the mainland

12 bird species – 3150 km from the mainland

65 bird species – 1880 km from the mainland

Which group of scientists use geographic information systems to analyze their data? Geographic ecologist

Identify the following hypotheses that try to explain latitudinal gradients in species diversity? Tropical species are more controlled by predators; tropical species have more mutualistic interactions; tropical species are limited by biological factors

The change in the species composition of an island is termed species turnover

Islands will vary in the species diversity and composition due to the difference in size. TRUE

Identify the functions of a GPS system. Determine latitude; determine altitude; determine longitude

According to Rosenzweig, how does a large tropical region decrease the chances of extinction? Large tropical areas should have more refuges that will help decrease environmental disturbances; large tropical areas will allow tropical species to be distributed over a large area

Which factors play the greatest role in determining the number of species in a given area? Number of species added minus the number of species that disappear

What relationship exists between habitat patches and species richness? As a habitat patch increases in size, the species richness increases

Which features help maintain species richness on islands? Immigration to the island; extinction on the island

Match the correct number of bird species to the square area of the associated islands.

14 bird species – 200 acres

26 bird species – 1250 acres

3 bird species – 26 acres

Match the number of species with the island size, as predicted by MacArthur and Wilson.

Large number of species – small islands that are far away

Highest number of species – large islands that are near

Intermediate number of species – small, near islands

Which abiotic factor most likely played a role in determining the difference in temperate tree diversity? Distribution of mountain ranges

Which variables are associated with the equilibrium model of island biogeography? Rates of extinction; rates of immigration

According to the heterogeneity hypothesis, which region would contain the greatest number of species? Tropics

Species richness on islands is static. FALSE

What are the two main categories that scientists are using in order to explain latitudinal gradients in species diversity? Niche breadth; interspecific interactions

Based upon the research done by Flessa, which statement would be correct? A large continent would have a high mammalian richness

Which biome is most likely to have the greatest species richness? Tropical rainforest

What information is used by a remote sensing system? Electromagnetic radiation

In what ways are new species added to an area? Immigration; speciation

Match the correct land mass with species richness, according to Brown.

Eurasia – greatest mammalian diversity

Africa – moderate mammalian diversity

Madagascar – lowest mammalian diversity

What event helps maintain the diversity on a mountain island? Colonization from source areas

Why did Rosenzweig propose that tropical species should have a greater population size? Tropical species have a larger range

Which additional features have been added to the definition of geographic ecology? Study of the ecological structure on large scales; study of ecological process at large geographic scales

Which term refers to the rate of arrival of new species on an island? Immigration

Which of the following are components of geographic ecology? Island biogeography; influence of historical processes on biological diversity; latitudinal patterns of species diversity

Who defined the term geographic ecology? Robert MacArthur

What is the main role of a global positioning system? Determine locations on the earth’s surface

Which statement best explains why certain mountain islands have a greater diversity than others? Mountain island diversity is maintained by colonization from nearby regions

Which features did Brown propose played a secondary role in determining species diversity? Amount of predation within the region; competition between species

Which statement best describes remote sensing? The gathering of information about an object without direct contact

Geographic ecology is a very narrow field of study. FALSE

Which biomes in particular are associated with the productivity hypothesis? Coral reefs; tropical rain forests

What happens to species richness as you approach the equator? Species richness increases

What did Simberloff and Wilson conclude from their mangrove study? The number of species present did not change; species composition changed

What is the relationship between continental area and species richness? A positive relationship between mammalian richness and the area of continents

Which endemic species suggests that South American beech forests have been isolated for an extended period of time? Birds; frogs; mammals

Match the appropriate mammal richness to the montane area.

1 mammal species – 10 km3

15 mammal species – 10,000 km3

6 mammal species – 100 km3

Which events helped lead to the establishment of montane habitats? Alpine habitats contracted to the top of mountains; the climate warmed

What term refers to the rate at which species disappeared from an island? Extinction

Which factors influence local diversity on continents? Amount of predation experienced; successional age of the community

What type of relationship exists between tropical area and tropical diversity among fruit-eating mammals and plants? A positive relationship

According to the perturbation hypothesis, why are there more species in the tropics? The tropics are older; the tropics are disturbed less frequently

Where are montane habitats typically found? On the top of mountains

Identify the reasons why South American beech forests have a low diversity? They have a small area; they have been isolated for a long time

Which group of organisms did Simberloff and Wilson survey during their mangrove study? Arthropods

Which statement is correct about the results of Williamson’s study of the Channel and Azore islands? Birds and ferns both show a positive relationship between island area and diversity

What term refers to the rate of arrival of new species on an island? Immigration

Which statement correctly describes the mean annual temperature of the tropics? The mean annual temperature in the tropics is very stable across a large range

What did Rosenzweig discover about the temperatures of tropical latitudes? Temperatures are uniform across tropical latitudes

Which variables play a role in determining the species richness of islands? Differences among the speciation rates of various species; differences among the colonization ability of various species; differences among the extinction rates of various species

What type of relationship is discovered when total species richness is plotted against lake area? A positive relationship

Habitat heterogeneity plays a role in influencing the local diversity on continents. TRUE

Why do we know so little about production in the open ocean? Open ocean sampling devices are limited; the open ocean is very large

What type of relationship exists between isolation and the number of montane mammal species on mountaintops in the American Southwest? Strong negative relationship

Which features are associated with a Mediterranean flora? Fire resistance; succulence

What is the disadvantage of east west mountain ranges in Europe during an ice age? Plants do not have a way to retreat from glaciers

According to the favorableness hypothesis, which region provides a more favorable environment? Tropics

What did Simberloff learn when he tested the effect of island area on species richness? There is a positive relationship between area and species richness

What type of relationship exists between species richness and island area? A positive relationship

According to the perturbation hypothesis, the tropics will have a higher species richness than the temperate biomes

Which features of Diamond’s study support the equilibrium model of island biogeography? Stability in the number of bird species over the study period; he compared his results to a study conducted 50 years before

Which tropical area would we expect to have the greatest number of fruit-eating mammal and plant species? Amazonia

What correlation exists between area and species richness? When island area is reduced, species richness decreases

What total number of fish species did Tonn and Magnuson discover to be in the lakes of northern Wisconsin? 23

According to the favorableness hypothesis, why would one region have a greater species richness than another? The environment is more favorable

Which group had a lower species richness on the Azore islands compared to the Channel islands? Bird species

What is the biological significance of the latitudinal pattern of temperature in tropics? Organisms can disperse across a large range

What was the plant species richness on the islands in Lake Hjalmaren, during the first century of their existence? 0 to 127

What did Risebzweig discover about the tropical latitudinal zones? They contain the largest amount of land on Earth

What occurs during a species turnover on an island? The species composition of an island changes, but the number of species is relatively the same

When studying production  of the open ocean, which group of organisms are important? Phytoplankton

What type of study sites were used by Simberloff and Wilson during their Florida Keys study? Small mangrove islands

Why are seepage lakes considered isolated? They do not receive surface runoff

Why did Rydin and Borgegard learn about large islands during their study of Lake Hjalmaren? Large islands had an equal rate of immigration and extinction

What type diversity of bird species would expect in a Northeastern North American community that has a high degree of vertical heterogeneity in the plant community? High diversity

What type of information can be gained from satellite images? Changes in plant biomass

What assumption supports the perturbation hypothesis? The tropics have remained relatively stable

What prediction did MacArthur and Wilson make about the rates of extinction on islands? Rates of extinctions are determined by island size

What best explains the difference between the bird and fern diversity on the Azore islands? Ferns can disperse much easier than birds

Which area of the ocean show the highest levels of productivity? Along the coast

What information did Rydin and Borgegard obtain about the plant diversity on the islands in Lake Hjalmaren? Small and medium sized islands had more immigrations than extinctions

What correlation exists between Northeastern North American plant communities and bird diversity? The greater vertical heterogeneity in the plants, the greater the diversity in the bird species

What prediction did MacArthur and Wilson make about the rate of immigration on an island? Rate of immigration is determined by distance from the source of immigrants

What relationship about diversity was discovered on the Azore islands? Low bird diversity and high fern diversity

Which abiotic feature is believed to have played a role in the disturbances experienced by the middle and high latitudes? Glaciation

What is the remote sensing image measuring when studying the ocean productivity? Levels of chlorophyll a

Which type of lake is considered isolated? Seepage lake

What did Rydin and Borgegard learn about large islands during their study of Lake Hjalmaren? Large islands had an equal rate of immigration and extinction

Which areas of the ocean show the highest levels of productivity? Along the coast