Regional Biogeography Lecture Summary

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to regional biogeography, specifically focusing on species diversity, immigration, extinction, and related theories.

Alpha Diversity

The average species diversity in a specific area or habitat.

Gamma Diversity

The total species diversity in a larger region that encompasses multiple habitats.

Species-Area Relationship

The theory that states species richness increases with the area sampled.

Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography

A theory that predicts the number of species on an island is determined by the balance between immigration rates and extinction rates.

Species Turnover Rate

The rate of change in species composition on an island due to ongoing colonization and extinction processes.

Species Immigration Rate (I)

The rate at which new species arrive on an island.

Species Extinction Rate (E)

The rate at which species disappear from an island.

Species Pool (P)

The total number of species available for colonization on an island.

Isolation

The distance of an island from the mainland which affects species richness.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process in which large habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches affecting biodiversity.