Causes of Biodiversity

Question 1

This says that there is more species in some areas because speciation happens faster or longer

Answer 1

evolutionary speed hypothesis

Question 2

Is extinction less or more common in large areas?

Answer 2

less

Question 3

Why are the Hawaiian Islands low in species richness?

Answer 3

the geologically very young

Question 4

This states that large areas have more diversity then smaller land areas

Answer 4

geographic area hypothesis

Question 5

This states that high species diversity in the tropics is associated with greater competition and higher predation rates

Answer 5

interspecific interactions hypothesis

Question 6

What controls natural selection in high latitude regions?

Answer 6

extreme ranges in temperature and seasons

Question 7

What are the three factors in climate that determines how much energy is available for plants and animals?

Answer 7

sunlight, temperature and water

Question 8

This says that where there is more energy there will be greater biodiversity

Answer 8

ambient energy hypothesis

Question 9

This says that greater production should result in greater biological diversity

Answer 9

productivity hypothesis

Question 10

Give an example of a low productivity site

Answer 10

heath scrublands of Australia

Question 11

This hypothesis says that the most competitive species should exclude less dominant competing species leading to a loss in species diversity

Answer 11

intermediate disturbance hypothesis

Question 12

What can cause a less competitive species to become the dominant species?

Answer 12

Fire, disease, or flooding of the dominant species

Question 13

This is the formation of new and distinct species by evolution

Answer 13

speciation