Diversity Gradients and Geographic Ranges

These flashcards cover key concepts related to diversity gradients and geographic ranges, including rules and patterns in biogeography.

What defines Areography in biogeography?

Areography describes patterns and underlying mechanisms responsible for the size, shape, and location of geographic ranges.

What does Macroecology focus on?

Macroecology investigates the assembly and structure of biotas through a multi-scale approach.

What is Rapoport's Rule?

Rapoport's Rule states that toward the poles, the area of range increases, overlap of ranges increases, and species richness decreases.

Why are larger range species more likely to be generalists?

Organisms with larger ranges have greater niche breadth, allowing them to thrive in a variety of environments.

What does Bergmann's Rule state about body size in endotherms?

Bergmann's Rule states that body size tends to increase with latitude, resulting in larger animals closer to the poles.

What is the Peninsular Effect?

The Peninsular Effect refers to the decrease in species richness from the continental interior toward the terminus of a peninsula.

What pattern does species richness show with elevation according to MacArthur?

Species richness typically shows a hump-shaped pattern with elevation, peaking at intermediate heights.

What does Allen's Rule explain?

Allen's Rule explains that endothermic vertebrates in hotter environments tend to have longer appendages, which aid in heat dissipation.

What is the significance of the color of insects in terms of geographic trends?

Insects tend to exhibit darker colors in northern and southern latitudes and lighter colors at the equator, related to light absorption for temperature regulation.

What does Gloger's Rule suggest?

Gloger's Rule suggests that darker colors occur in more humid environments, although there are alternative explanations for some species.