Lec. 10 pt. 1: Comprehensive Study Notes on Biogeography and Terrestrial Biomes

A comprehensive set of practice questions covering species richness, ecological niche theory, metabolic rates, trophic levels, and the characteristics of global biomes based on lecture notes from a biogeography lecture.

What is the definition of species richness?

Species richness is the number of identified species in a specific area.

Which geological era is believed to have the highest species richness based on the fossil record?

The Cenozoic modern era.

What percentage of all identified species in the world are beetles (Collioptera)?

$$25\%$$

Approximately how many known species of weevils have been identified?

$40,000$ or more.

Who is the author of the most commonly used modern concept of the 'niche'?

George Evelyn Hutchinson.

Why did Hutchinson describe the niche as 'n-dimensional'?

Because every relevant physical condition and resource could have its own axis, and mathematicians can conceptualize multi-dimensional spaces beyond the three we can draw.

What is the difference between specialists and generalists regarding diet and range?

Specialists have narrow diet or tolerance ranges (e.g., eating only one thing), while generalists have very wide ranges and can live in diverse conditions.

What was the result of the study on Middle Eastern and African wild cats regarding their niche?

The sizes of their teeth were different, which indicated they targeted different prey types to reduce niche overlap and competition.

According to the transcript, which species is the ancestor of the domestic cat?

Missinelli (Sylvester the Cat source).

How does the mass-specific metabolic rate change with the size of an organism?

The metabolic rate per unit mass is much higher for small organisms compared to large ones.

What percentage of energy do endotherms (birds and mammals) spend just maintaining constant body temperature?

$97\%$ to $98\%$

What is the relationship between body size and species range in large mammals?

Large mammals require very large species ranges and do not have small ranges.

What are the two types of organisms that act as producers in a food chain?

Creatures that perform photosynthesis (e.g., plants, algae) or chemosynthesis (prokaryotes).

What are top predators in a food chain called?

Apex predators.

What is the '10% rule' in ecological food chains?

On average, only $10\%$ of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level.

What is the definition of carrying capacity?

The maximum number of individuals of a species that the environment can support indefinitely based on available resources.

What are the two major determinants of a terrestrial biome type?

Temperature regime and precipitation regime (rainfall patterns).

What is the highest unit of terrestrial community defined by dominant plant types?

A biome.

What are 'epiphytes'?

Plants that grow on other plants, such as resurrection ferns or Spanish moss, which are common in tropical rainforests.

Where is the only original, primitive deciduous forest in Europe located?

The Balawicha Forest (BiałowieŰa) on the border between Poland and Belarus.

Which biome is characterized by 'Sclerophyllous' (hard-leaved) vegetation and is often called Chaparral in America?

The Mediterranean biome.

What is the main reason why boreal forests (Taiga) are dominated by conifers?

Conifers withstand colder winters better and their needles do not evaporate as much water in the summer compared to flowering plants.

What is permafrost?

Permanently frozen underlayers of soil found in the Tundra that prevent tree roots from successfully growing.