Biotic Distribution Flashcards
Biota
the total complex of plant and animal life
Highest level of the biota?
Kingdom
What is the kingdom made up of?
all plants, all animals, all microorganisms
Lowest level of the biota
species
What is the species made up of
only one organism
Species?
organisms that look the same and are capable of successful reproduction
Environmental Influences of the distribution of terrestrial biota
Climate, Soil Characteristics, Topographic Factors, Catastrophic Events
Biographical Influences of terristrial biota
Evolutionary development, migration, reproductive success, displacement, extinction
Isotherm
a line on a map connecting points of equal temperature
Natural Selection
“survival of the fittest”
Gene pool
the sum of all genes of all people in a population
Migration
the movement of organisms from one point to another
Displacement
the naturally occuring, greadual removal of a species from an area
Plant Succession
involves a series of temporary situations whereby one type of vegetation is naturally replaced another over time
bioaccummulation
the buildup of pollutants such as ddt in organisms
Human Influences of distribution of Biota
Loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, substitution of species, simplification, trans-location, contamination of environment
Species Diversity
Total number of species in a geographic area
Genetic Diversity
maintenence of genetic characteristics in the gene pool of a species
Habitat Diversity
the number of different kinds of living environments in a given area
Community Diversity
number of different groups in a species
How many species are there?
1.8 million
Extirpation
disappearance of a species over a large part of its former range
How many mammal species are extinct
21%
How many bird species are extinct?
13%
How many amphibian species are extinct?
30%
Characteristics of extinction prone animal species
Low population, Specialized diet, Large body, Need for specific habitat, cannot adapt to change
Major human factors causing extinction
1) degradation
2) commercial market hunting
3) predator and pest control
4) wildlife trade
5) invasive species
6) pollutio
1900 lacey act?
prohibits transporting live or dead wild animals
Endangered species act 1973
protects any member of plant or animal species
International Union for the protection of Nature and Natural Resources 1934
assigned problem species to one of five categories (endangered, threatened, rare, out of danger, indeterminite)
