Island Biogeography and Genetic Diversity in Scandinavian Rock Ptarmigan

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to island biogeography, genetic diversity, and the methodologies used in ecological studies.

Island Biogeography Theory

A theory proposed by MacArthur and Wilson in 1967 that explains species diversity on islands as a balance between extinction rates and immigration rates.

Extinction Rate

The rate at which species become extinct in a given area or habitat.

Immigration Rate

The rate at which new species immigrate to an area from another habitat, influencing biodiversity.

Genetic Diversity

The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Scandinavian Rock Ptarmigan

A medium-sized game bird that inhabits mountainous regions and is used as a model species in studies of genetic diversity.

Observed Heterozygosity

The proportion of individuals in a population that are heterozygous at a particular locus.

Expected Heterozygosity

The expected proportion of heterozygous individuals in a population, calculated using allele frequencies.

Allelic Richness

The number of different alleles present in a population.

Inbreeding Coefficient

A measure of how closely related individuals are in a population.

Euclidean Distance

The straight-line distance between two points in space.

Cost Distance

A distance measure that takes into account the landscape's characteristics to determine how difficult it is to move through it.

Genotyping

The process of determining the genetic makeup of an individual by examining the individual's DNA.

Relatedness

A measure of how genetically similar individuals are within a population.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Connectivity

The degree to which different populations are connected through gene flow.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population due to chance events.

Isolation

The state of being separated from other populations, which can impact genetic diversity.

Genetic Rescue

The introduction of genetic material from one population to another to increase genetic diversity and viability.

Nuisance Variables

Variables that are not of primary interest but are included in analysis to control for their potential effects.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A principle that describes the expected genetic variation in a population that is not evolving.

Translocation

The process of moving individuals from one location to another for conservation purposes.

Phylogenetic Analysis

The study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities often using genetic data.

Fine Scale Sampling

A method of sampling focused on small geographical areas for more precise data.

Coarse Scale Sampling

A method of sampling over a larger area that may overlook specific details.

Cryptic Species

Species that are morphologically similar but genetically distinct.

Sampling Effort

The amount of effort or resources put into collecting samples for a study.