rainforests and coral reefs

Species area curve

number of species per area

horizontal complexity

terra firme, varzea, igapo

terra firme

most diverse, tallest, doesn’t flood

varzea

whitewater, high in nutrients, fast flowing

igapo

blackwater, oligotrophic, slow moving

vertical heterogeneity

topographic + vertical complexity

topographic complexity

hills vs valleys, phasic complexity

phasic complexity

gaps + late and early successional growth

vertical complexity

emergent - canopy- subcanopy- understory

trends (emergent to understory)

less light, more far-red light, decrease in wind, decrease of quantity and quality of PAR.

photosynthetically active radiation

(PAR) is the portion of the light spectrum that plants use for photosynthesis, typically ranging from 400 to 700 nanometers. It is essential for plant growth and productivity in ecosystems.

keystone species

palms, figs, legumes

gap

death of tree, filled by new growth and sunlight

gap phase regeneration

increase in plant growth, PAR, and temperature. decrease in humidity

sources of regeneration

infill growth, seed rain, seedling bank, seed bank, coppice

infill growth

the process by which plants grow in gaps created by the death of larger trees, utilizing available light and resources.

seed rain

the dispersal of seeds from parent plants through various mechanisms, such as wind, animals, or water, contributing to plant regeneration in ecosystems.

coppice

a method of woodland management where trees are periodically cut back to ground level to promote new growth and regeneration.

shifting mosaics

a dynamic pattern of vegetation structure in ecosystems, where different patches of growth are at varying stages of development due to factors like disturbance and regeneration.

dynamic equilibrium

a state of balance in an ecosystem where opposing forces or influences are in a stable condition, allowing for continuous change without overall disruption.

niche partitioning

the process by which species divide resources to reduce competition and coexist in the same habitat.

allochthonous

referring to organic matter that originates from outside an ecosystem, often contributing nutrients to the local environment.

autochthonous

indigenous to a particular environment, habitat, or geographical area.

mullerian mimicry

Müllerian mimicry is a natural phenomenon in which two or more well-defended species, often foul-tasting and sharing common predators, have come to mimic each other's honest warning signals, to their mutual benefit.

prey switching

Prey switching refers to when a predator changes its primary prey to an alternative species due to a decline in the availability or abundance of its usual prey. This allows predators to maintain their energy needs while reducing pressure on a single prey population.

adaptive radiation

Adaptive radiation is the process by which a single ancestral species rapidly evolves into multiple species, each adapted to a specific ecological niche. This often happens when organisms colonize a new environment with diverse resources or when competition or environmental changes open up opportunities.

pioneers → late successional

increase of shade, biomass, and diversity

pioneers

fast growth, dies young, sun tolerant, many small seeds, wind dispersed, few defense compound, light wood, seed banks

late successional

lives long, shade tolerant, slow growth, heavy wood, few large seeds, many defense compounds, animal dispersal, not dormant

obligate mutualism

will die without (figs + fig wasps)

living dead

species goes extinct because pollinator dies

recruitment failure

too few left to find each other

allee effect

failure to reproduce due to low population density

how to avoid conflict

be quiet, be nocturnal, be arboreal

mammals

primates, cats, bats, rodents (most diverse)

birds

canopy - bright, simple song, frugivores

understory- cryptic, complex song, insectivores

amphibians

ectotherm, toxic, nocturnal

reptiles

scaly, predators, nocturnal or diurnal

ectotherm

An ectotherm is an animal that relies on external sources of heat, such as sunlight or a warm surface, to regulate its body temperature. Unlike endotherms (like mammals and birds), ectotherms do not generate much internal heat and depend on their environment to stay warm or cool.

unfertile soil

highly weather, leached by rainfall, high decomposition rates

nutrient pools

wood, waste, leaf litter (above ground mostly)

adaptations

surface root mats, mycorrhizae, canopy roots, tough leaves, chemical defense, mechanical defense, mutualistic defense (ants)

indigenous farming

minimal soil disturbance, relies on natural resources

swidden farming

slash and burn, 15 fallow years, minimally invasive

industrial farming

fertilizers, pesticides, equipment, rapid soil degradation, unsustainable

industrial environmental impact

deforestation, soil degradation, biodiversity loss

industrial social impact

loss of culture, displacement, increase in poverty

industrial economic impact

increased meat consumption, high corporate yields

riparian corridors

Riparian corridors are the strips of vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and grasses, that grow along rivers, streams, and other water bodies. These areas serve as vital ecological corridors, connecting habitats and supporting biodiversity in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

zoochorous

animal dispersal of seeds

  stochastic events

(changes that occur naturally)