Biogeography Overview

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on biogeography, encompassing key terms and definitions to aid in understanding the distribution and diversity of species.

Biogeography

Study of the variation in species diversity and distribution across geographic space.

Latitudinal Diversity Gradient

The pattern where species diversity increases as one moves toward the tropics.

Vicariance

A process where species are separated by geographical barriers, leading to speciation.

Long Distance Dispersal

A process by which organisms spread over long distances to colonize new areas.

Immigration Rate

The rate at which new species arrive in an area, influenced by distance and proximity to a source.

Extinction Rate

The rate at which species disappear from an area, often influenced by habitat size.

Energy Hypothesis

The idea that more solar energy in the tropics increases photosynthesis and supports greater biodiversity.

Earth History Hypothesis

The concept that historical continental shifts and stability in the tropics allow for more species diversification.

Evolutionary History Hypothesis

The idea that low seasonality in the tropics accelerates species generation and evolution rates.

Ecological Interactions Hypothesis

Proposes that increased specialization in the tropics leads to more complex species interactions.

Historical Biogeography

Study of how past environmental factors have shaped species distributions.

Species-Area Relationship

The principle that larger geographical areas tend to support more species.

Complementary Species Sampling

A sampling strategy used to capture a representative diversity of species.

Tectonic Plates

Massive slabs of Earth's lithosphere that move over the Earth's mantle, influencing biogeographic patterns.

Continental Drift

The movement of tectonic plates leading to the separation and joining of land masses.

Niche Conservatism

The tendency of species to retain their ancestral niches over time.

Bering Strait Land Bridge

A former land connection between Asia and North America that allowed species exchange.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Regions with high levels of endemic species that are under threat from human activities.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic and chemosynthetic autotrophs to organic substances.

Species Richness

The number of different species represented in a given ecological community.

Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography

The theory that describes species diversity on islands based on immigration and extinction rates.

Terrestrial Biodiversity

The variety of organisms living on land environments.

Aquatic Biodiversity

The variety of organisms living in water bodies.

Past Environmental Factors

Historical climate and ecological conditions that have affected species distribution.

Solar Energy Availability

The amount of solar energy that reaches Earth's surface, influencing ecosystem productivity.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Community Interactions

The interactions among species within an ecological community, including competition and predation.

Hierarchical Classification

A system of organizing species into categories based on shared characteristics.

Phylogenetic Tree

A branching diagram that represents the evolutionary relationships among different species.

Microhabitat

A small-scale environment supporting specific plant and animal species.

Pangaea

A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras.

Species Distribution Limits

Factors that restrict how far a species can spread or thrive in various environments.