Biogeog Cow 2016 3x

What is ecological biogeography?

Current environment shapes species distributions.

Ecological biogeography focus?

Local scale + short-term limits.

Historical biogeography focus?

Long-term evolution + large scale.

What is a biome?

Climate-driven vegetation type.

What is an ecosystem?

Biota + abiotic environment.

What is biodiversity gradient?

Diversity increases toward equator.

Who described altitude gradients?

Humboldt.

What is natural selection?

Fitter individuals reproduce more.

What is a species range?

Area where species occurs.

What is distribution?

How species is arranged in its range.

What is a niche?

Conditions needed to survive/reproduce.

Fundamental niche?

Potential niche (no biotic limits).

Realised niche?

Actual niche (biotic limits).

Niche partitioning?

Resource separation between species.

What limits distributions?

Climate, barriers, biotic factors, dispersal, history.

What is endemism?

Species restricted to one area.

What is a relict?

Remnant of wider past distribution.

Dispersal type 1?

Corridor (continuous).

Type 2?

Filter (partial barrier).

Type 3?

Sweepstake (random).

What is disjunct distribution?

Separated populations.

Island biogeography?

Species depend on area + isolation.

Species–area rule?

Larger area = more species.

Island controls?

Area, isolation, age, habitat.

What is a community?

All species in area.

What is a guild?

Similar resource users.

Clements view?

Community = integrated unit.

Gleason view?

Community = individual species.

What is ecosystem?

Community + abiotic factors.

Primary productivity?

Energy at base of food web.

Keystone species?

Big impact species.

Intermediate disturbance?

Medium disturbance = max richness.

Neutral theory?

Species are equivalent (random).

Allopatric speciation?

Geographic isolation.

Sympatric speciation?

Same area.

Parapatric speciation?

Adjacent ranges.

What is invasion?

Non-native spread.

Why islands vulnerable?

Isolation + low competition.

What is a hotspot?

High endemism + high loss.

Conservation biogeography?

Using biogeography for conservation.

Complementarity?

Protect different areas for max diversity.