Biogeography Flashcards
What is Biogeography
Geography of life, Science of understanding spatial patterns of Biology
Organism distribution causes
Geographic template and when they change, Biota response, species interaction
Why is Biogeography important
Organisms’ importance, understanding uneven spatial distribution, adapting to environmental change
What percent of species face extinction due to climate change
15-37%
Whakapapa-
Kaitiakitanga-
Mauri-
Taonga-
Whakapapa - Understanding the total environment
Kaitiakitanga - guardianship of the environment
Mauri - energy, the life force of all things
Taonga - treasure, iconic species
Linnean system
Order-Family-Genus-Species
Terrestrial biomes
Areas of similar climates and vegetation
Environmental gradient
Change in abiotic (non living) factors through space (e.g moisture, altitude)
Species response function
Measure of the performance of a species along an environmental gradient
Environmental gradient conditions
Temperature, moisture, salinity etc
Environmental gradient resources
Food, water, space, soil, breeding, something competed for
Niche
The set of environmental conditions in which a species can survive in
Fundamental Niche
The set of environmental conditions in which a species can survive in the absence of other organisms
Realized Niche
The set of environmental conditions in which a species can survive with organisms present (geographic range)
Is realized niche or fundamental niche smaller
Realized niche
What can we see from an observed distribution of a species
Realised and environmental niche models, as well as predict potential distribution
IUCN red list criteria
Population reduction, restricted geographic range and extinction probability
What does IUCN red list criteria result in
The species being endangered or vulnerable
Species distribution types
Cosmopolitan, Disjunct, Endemic
Invasion Biogeography
Alien-
Naturalised-
Invasive-
Weed-
Introduced-
Alien - A species whose precense in an area is due to human activity
Naturalised - Alien species that manage to sustain viable populations
Invasive - Naturalised species dispersing far away from site of introduction
Weed - Any species that does harm
Introduced - Any species that has been transported by humans across a major geographical barrier
Species richness
Overlapping species ranges in a location
Cosmopolitan species traits
Wide niche range (large environmantal tolerance), Generalist, Rapid breeding, Short generation time (quicker evolution), Good disperser, Transported by people
Disjunct species traits
Relict features, Range contraction, Long-distance dispersal, Plate tectonics/sea level rise, Human habitat fragmentation (anthropogenic)
Endemism species traits
Relict features, Range contraction, Land patterns, Mountain tops/oceanic islands (isolation)
Biodiversity
Variety of life; includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems
How is biodiversity measured
Number of species and genetic diversity
Global species richness
Total known-
Total estimated-
Vertebrates-
Invertebrates-
Vascular plants-
Total known - 1.7 million
Total estimated - 9 million
Vertebrates - 70,000
Invertebrates - 1.3 million
Vascular plants - 390,000
Nz species richness
Total known-
Vertebrates-
Invertebrates-
Vascular plants-
Native and exotic vascular plants-
Percentage alien and endemic
Total known - 56,000
Vertebrates - 1,700
Invertebrates - 20,000
Vascular plants - 4,700
Native and exotic vascular plants - 2,200 and 2,500
50% alien 80% Endemic