Biogeography and Primary Production in Ecosystems

Hectare

Unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters.

Amazon Rainforest

Contains more plant species than all of Europe.

Amazon River

Home to more fish species than Atlantic Ocean.

Deforestation

Conversion of forested areas to non-forest uses.

Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

Study on minimum rainforest area for species diversity.

Edge Effects

Changes in species composition due to habitat fragmentation.

Species Diversity

Variety of species within a given area.

Endemic Species

Species unique to a specific geographic location.

Global Scale

Study of species diversity across the entire world.

Regional Scale

Species diversity tied to uniform climate areas.

Landscape Features

Topographic elements influencing species migration and extinction.

Local Scale

Species interactions within a specific community.

Alpha Diversity

Species diversity within a community.

Beta Diversity

Species turnover between different communities.

Gamma Diversity

Total species diversity across a regional pool.

Spatial Scale

Levels of geographic analysis in biogeography.

Species Isolation

Separation of species by geographical barriers.

Speciation Rate

Frequency of new species formation over time.

Extinction Rate

Frequency of species disappearance over time.

Dispersal Limitations

Barriers preventing species from spreading.

Forest Fragmentation

Breaking up of forest into smaller patches.

Plant Species Count in Amazon

1,300 tree species identified in the Amazon.

Boreal Forest Species Count

Only 2-3 tree species found in Boreal regions.

Terrestrial plants

Plants that grow on land ecosystems.

Soil bacteria

Bacteria that inhabit soil environments.

Scale of 102-104 m2

Area range for studying local species.

Scale of 102 cm2

Smaller area for local ecological studies.

Regional species pool

Source of species for local communities.

Local assemblages

Species communities in a specific area.

Species richness

Number of different species in an area.

Slope = 1

Indicates equal local and regional species diversity.

Saturation point

Limit of species diversity due to local factors.

Witman et al. (2004)

Study on invertebrate communities in various regions.

75% local variation

Explained by the regional species pool influence.

Global patterns of diversity

Influenced by area, isolation, and climate.

Alfred Russel Wallace

Father of biogeography, studied species distributions.

The Geographical Distribution of Animals

Wallace's 1876 publication on species distribution.

Biogeographic regions

Six major areas based on species distribution.

Continental drift

Movement of Earth's tectonic plates over time.

Vicariance

Species separation due to geographical barriers.

Ratites

Flightless birds with a common Gondwana ancestor.

Negative relationship

Higher latitude correlates with lower species diversity.

Seabirds diversity

Highest in temperate and polar latitudes.

Tropical species diversity hypotheses

Three theories explaining high diversity in tropics.

Evolutionary time

Duration of species evolution affecting diversity.

Diversification rate

Speed at which new species evolve.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size an environment can sustain.

Species Diversification Rate

Rate at which new species evolve over time.

Species Diversification Time

Duration available for species to evolve.

Tropical Productivity

High biological productivity in tropical regions.

Species-Area Relationship

Species richness increases with area sampled.

Island Biogeography

Study of species distribution on islands.

Equilibrium Theory

Balance between immigration and extinction rates.

Immigration Rate

Frequency of new species arriving in an area.

Extinction Rate

Frequency of species disappearing from an area.

Species-Area Curve

Graph showing species richness vs. area size.

Distance Effect

Species diversity decreases with distance from source.

Krakatau Case Study

Volcanic island recovery observed after 1883 eruption.

Turnover Rate

Rate at which species are replaced in an area.

MacArthur and Wilson

Developers of island biogeography theory.

Climatic Stability

Consistency of climate over long periods.

Population Size

Number of individuals in a species.

Geographic Range

Area occupied by a species.

Local Diversity

Species variety within a specific local area.

Regional Species Pool

Total species available in a region.

Matrix Habitat

Surrounding habitat differing from isolated areas.

Volcanic Island Recovery

Process of species re-colonization after disturbance.

Mangrove Experiment

Study showing species recovery after insect removal.

Species Turnover

Change in species composition over time.

Deep Sea

A habitat with extreme pressure and darkness.

Ecosystem

All biotic and abiotic components influencing energy flow.

Primary Production

Chemical energy generated by autotrophs.

Autotrophs

Organisms converting energy into chemical energy.

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Total carbon fixed by autotrophs.

Primary Productivity

Rate of primary production in ecosystems.

Leaf Area Index (LAI)

Leaf area per unit ground area.

Photorespiration

Net energy loss in plants during respiration.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

Energy captured by autotrophs minus respiration.

Energy Flow

Movement of energy through an ecosystem.

Biotic Components

Living organisms within an ecosystem.

Abiotic Components

Non-living elements affecting ecosystems.

Photosynthesis

Process converting sunlight into chemical energy.

Chemosynthesis

Energy production using inorganic compounds.

Carbon Currency

Measurement unit for primary production.

Environmental Conditions

Factors influencing plant NPP allocation.

Incremental Gain

Diminishing returns from added leaf layers.

Temperature Effect

High temperatures favor photorespiration over photosynthesis.

Shading Impact

Reduced photosynthesis due to leaf layer shading.

Functional Categories

Grouping organisms by energy acquisition methods.

Lindeman's Paper

1942 work on energy flow in ecosystems.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

Energy available after plant respiration.

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Total energy captured by photosynthesis.

Respiration

Process adding CO2 to the environment.

Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE)

GPP minus total respiration measurements.

Chlorophyll

Pigment absorbing light for photosynthesis.

Eddy Covariance

Method measuring CO2 gradients in plant canopies.

Aboveground Biomass

Plant mass above soil level.

Belowground Biomass

Plant mass below soil level.

Nutrient Availability

Essential nutrients affecting plant growth rates.

Water Availability

Moisture levels influencing ecosystem productivity.