Biodiversity & Biogeography
The # of different species in an area
Species diversity
Biodiversity
What are the 3 categories that would be found on a range of tolerance graph?
optimal range
zone of physiological stress
zone of intolerance
The main difference between primary and secondary succession
primary - no soil at the start
List the 4 ecosystem services.
What are provisioning, cultural, supporting, and regulating services?
What is an adaptation?
What is a trait that by random chance gives an individual a survival advantage in a specific environment. Over time, this trait will become more prevalent in the population as a whole.
According to the theory of island biogeography, what type of island would have the fewest number of different species?
Far from the mainland and small in size
What are THREE abiotic factors that a species might experience a range of tolerance for?
pH, sunlight, temperature
Propose a way in which a scientist could determine if an ecosystem was approaching a climax community.
Record the biodiversity present, track the types and number of different species.
List 3 examples of a provisioning ecosystem service.
food
lumber
freshwater
New species by geographical separation
Allopatric speciation
Ecosystem A has 5 different species with the following abundances: A - 20%, B - 15%, C - 20%, D - 20%, and E 15%
Ecosystem B has 5 different species with the following abundances: A - 5% B - 25% C - 25%, D - 35%, and E 10%
Which has the higher biodiversity and why?
Ecosystem A
species richness is the same, but A has a more even distribution of each
Mayflies are an example of this, a species that embodies an important characteristic of an ecosystem.
Indicator Species
Identify TWO examples of catalysts for primary succession AND TWO examples of catalysts for secondary succession.
primary - glacial retreat and volcanic eruption
secondary - forest fire and abandoned agricultural field
What are two examples of cultural services that a freshwater lake ecosystem provides?
recreation, tourism, mental health, spiritual health
What is habitat fragmentation? (do not use the world fragment in your answer)
How do humans cause this?
when a habitat is broken into pieces
deforestation, construction of homes and roads
Why is genetic diversity so important within a population of a particular species?
higher genetic increases the chances the population will be able to adapt and evolve in the event of a disturbance.
Connect changes in population to the zones of a range of tolerance graph.
Optimal - grow and reproduce (numerous individuals)
Stress - survive (few individuals)
Intolerance - death (no individuals)
How do pioneer species like moss create habitable soil?
(i know its supposed to be a statement not a question)
They contribute to the erosion of the rock, die, and combine with the eroded minerals to form a foundational soil level.
What are 2 regulating services that a forest ecosystem provides?
climate regulation (absorbs carbon from the atmosphere)
soil formation
What is the difference between a generalist and a specialist species?
a generalist can survive a wide range of environmental conditions or eat a variety of food - a specialist can only survive in a very narrow range of conditions or only eats one type of food
An event like a forest fire wipes out most of a population leaving very little genetic diversity
Bottleneck effect
Draw and label a Range of Tolerance graph. Does not need real data!
graph must include the zones, title, axis labels and units, bell curve
Identify correlation between biomass, primary productivity, biodiversity and ecological succession AND explain why.
as succession progresses, all 3 increase
Increased species of plants (especially those larger in size) are more productive. This also supports more species of animals that can find habitats so the biodiversity and biomass go up as well.
Identify a human behavior that is impacting a specific ecosystem and example of an ecosystem resource that is lost as a result.
answers will vary
Name and explain a specific adaptation in a specific organism.
answers vary