Biodiversity
Why is biodiversity important?
Higher biodiversity = higher ecosystem -> population health
What are the two rules of Island Biogeography
Larger and closer (to mainland) islands support more species
Darwin observed that finches on the Galapagos Islands evolved unique shapes of this body part to better suit their specific diets
Nat. ecosystems regulate climate/air quality, reducing storm damage & healthcare costs is what part of ecosystem services
Regulating
How many types of ecological succession are there
two (primary, secondary)
the number of diff. species in an ecosystem and the balance or evenness of the pop. sizes of all species in the ecosystem is called?
Species diversity
What are some impacts of frequent migration
Genetic diversity
Larger population size
Within the ecological range of tolerance, this is the specific range where organisms can survive, grow, and reproduce
List 2 activities that disrupt provisioning services.
Overharvesting, water pollution, clearing land for ag/urbanization
What are some characteristics of mid-successional species
Relatively fast growing, larger plants (require deeper soils w more nutrients), sun tolerant
What's the difference between species richness and evenness
Richness is total number of different species found in an ecosystem and evenness is a measure of how all the individual organisms in an ecosystem are balanced between the different species
Why do larger islands have greater ecosystem diversity
more niches and roles that organisms can play in the ecosystem
How do rapid environment changes affect the species' adaptation
Trees in a forest store what through photosynthesis
CO2
Give an example of a place where mid-successional species would likely to appear
shrubs, bushes, fast-growing trees like aspen, cherry, and pine
How does genetic diversity in a population help population responding to environmental stressors like drought, disease or famine
More genetic diversity = higher chance that some of the individuals in population have traits that allow them to survive the environmental stressor
Can Central Park in New York be considered an 'ecological island' when studying community structure and species relationships? Why?
Yes, islands can be actual islands or figurative habitats (habitats surrounded by human developed land)
Bottleneck effect
Give an examples of cultural services
Landscapes drawing tourists, fishermen pay for fishing licenses, scientists learn about plant compounds that can lead to creation of new medicines
What is the starting point for primary succession
Starts from bare rock in an area with no previous soil formation
why is it harder for smaller populations to avoid inbreeding depression
It is more difficult to find non-related mate
What do ground finches eat
Seeds, cactus flowers
the environmental condition that kills individuals without the adaptation is called
Selective pressure/force
Name all four ecosystem services
Provisioning, regulating, supporting, cultural
Name three nutrients that Mosses and lichens help release from rocks as they break down minerals
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK)