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People in the Environment > Biodiversity, Biogeography and Ecosystem Science > Flashcards

Biodiversity, Biogeography and Ecosystem Science Flashcards

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People You Should Know flashcards
1
Q

Define biodiversity

A

The study of biological diversity, and the processes that create and maintain it

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2
Q

Define biogeography

A

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through (geological) time

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3
Q

Define ecosystem science

A

The study of the inter-relationships among the living organisms, physical features. biochemical processes and human activity in ecological communities

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4
Q

Define abiotic

A

Abiotic factors are non living chemical and physical parts of the environment that effect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems

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5
Q

Examples of abiotic factors

A

Sunlight
Temperature
Soil type
Nutrients

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6
Q

Define biotic

A

Living things that shape an ecosystem

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7
Q

Examples of biotic factors

A

Animals
Plants
Bacteria
Fungi

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8
Q

How did Ryan, 1992 define biodiversity?

A

The variety of life and its processes

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9
Q

How did the UN environment programme, 1991 define biodiversity?

A

The variety of and the variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are apart; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems

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10
Q

Ways of measuring and monitoring biodiversity

A
  • Genetic diversity
  • Species diversity
  • Higer taxon diversity
  • Indicator groups
  • Surrogate environmental measures
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11
Q

Measures of richness and evenness

A

Simpsons diversity index D
- lower value of D = more diverse sample

Ni (Ni - 1) divided by N (N - 1) = D

  • Ni = number of individuals of a given species
  • N = total number of individuals in the sample
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12
Q

How to quantify biodiversity at different scales

A

Local - Alpha diversity
Regional - Gamma diversity
Different scales - Beta diversity

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13
Q

Alpha diversity

A

Local diversity in a single habitat - could be number, richness or evenness of species

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14
Q

Gamma diversity

A

Total regional diversity of a large area, landscape or region

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15
Q

Beta diversity

A

The measure of how different habitat diversity is within an area or along a gradient - links local and regional diversity

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16
Q

Define historical biogeography

A

Reconstructing the origin, dispersal and extinction of species or taxonomic groups

17
Q

Define ecological biogeography

A

Present distributions and geographic variation in diversity, how biotic and abiotic interactions influence species distribution

18
Q

How do species get to where it is?

A

2 main natural processes

  • Dispersal - movement of individual
  • Vicariance - Historical reasons
19
Q

Why so species thrive where they are?

A

Concept of biomes = biological ‘meta communities’

  • Collections of areas with similar abiotic factors
  • Produce similar ecological communities
  • Example - Rainforests
20
Q

Biotic factors which impacts species distribution

A
  • Influence of ecosystem engineers - humans, bears
  • Interactions between species
  • Individual response of species
21
Q

Abiotic factors which impacts species distribution

A
  • Geographic template
  • Temporal dynamics of geographic template
  • Plate tectonics, sea level change and climate change
22
Q

Theories of biogeography

A
  • Historical theory
  • Equilibrium theory
  • Intermediate disturbance theory
  • Theory of island biogeography
23
Q

Define anthromes

A
  • Anthropogenic biomes
  • Represent landscapes defined by
    population density, land use, biota, climate and geology
24
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A whole community of organisms

25
Q

What are the most important functions of an ecosystem?

A
  • Energy and nutrient cycling
26
Q

What are the functions of an ecosystem controlled by?

A

Producers
Consumers
Decomposer
Water cycle

27
Q

What is ecosystem stability influenced by?

A

Biotic interactions

Abiotic factors

28
Q

Define primary production

A

Primary production means the generation of biological material by plants via photosynthesis
- Autotrophs - self feeders

29
Q

What are primary producers limited by?

A
  • Light
  • Nutrients
  • Water
  • Temp
  • Wind
30
Q

What is global terrestrial primary productivity

A

Net primary productivity (NPP) = G(ross)PP = respiration

This is that rate that carbon is removed from the atmosphere by plants

31
Q

Why are ecosystems often not in equilibrium?

A

Disturbances and changing abiotic factors - constantly changing
This causes:
- Changes in structure - food webs
- Relative species abundance
- Species immigration/emigration
- Feedback to changing abiotic conditions - soil fertility

32
Q

What is primary succession?

A

The colonisation of bare ground

33
Q

What is secondary succession?

A

Occurs when existing vegetation is removed

People in the Environment (8 decks)

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