Ch. 5 - Biogeography Flashcards
This is the study of patterns of distribution in prehistoric and present species
Biogeography (or zoogeography)
What question does biogeography attempt to answer?
Why do organisms live where they live?
This is the most cosmopolitan group of mammals
Bats
These three mammal groups are nearly cosmopolitan
Lutra (otters), murids, cats
These three mammal groups have the widest distribution from pole to pole
Lepas, mustella, canis
These species remain following past extinctions
Extant species
These species are confined to a specific locale
Endemic species
This faunal realm includes North America
Nearctic
This faunal realm includes South and Central America
Neotropical
This faunal realm includes Europe and most of Asia
Palearctic
This faunal realm includes Africa
Ethiopian
This faunal realm includes southeast Asia and India
Oriental
This faunal realm includes Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea
Australasian
What percentage of species has the Nearctic realm exchanged with the Palearctic realm?
50%
What percentage of species has the Nearctic realm exchanged with the Neotropical realm?
50%
What percentage of species has the Ethiopian realm exchanged with the Oriental realm?
70%
This is the largest faunal realm
Palearctic
Does the Palearctic realm have any endemic species?
No
Does the Palearctic realm have high interchange with other realms?
Yes
This faunal realm is mostly tropical and has high interchange with other realms
Oriental
What percentage of fauna does the Oriental realm interchange with other realms?
75%
Does the Oriental realm have high diversity?
Yes
Does the Oriental realm have high endemism?
No
How many families are endemic to the Oriental realm?
5
What are five families endemic to the Oriental realm?
Indian elephants, Indian rhinos, primates, shrews, moles
What is another name for the Ethiopian realm?
Afrotropical
This realm has the greatest diversity
Ethiopian (Afrotropical)
This island in the Ethiopian realm is the oldest in the world
Madagascar
Does Madagascar have high endemism?
Yes
How many temperate zones does the North/South orientation of the Ethiopian realm span?
2
Was there widespread domestication of plants and animals in Africa compared to globally?
No
Was there massive extinction of megafauna associated with arrival of humans in North America?
Yes
Was there massive extinction of megafauna associated with arrival of humans in Africa?
No
In what two regions in the Nearctic realm is there the greatest diversity?
West and South
Does the Nearctic realm have recent horses?
No
What are the two endemic mammal species in the Nearctic realm?
Pronghorn and mountain beaver
How many endemic species are there in the Neotropical realm?
22
What are two reasons why there is high endemism in the Neotropical realm?
Isolation and favorable climate
The Neotropical realm has an absence of these mammals
Large ungulates
In what direction does diversity decrease in the Neotropical realm?
North to South
With what realm does the Neotropical realm share prehistoric fauna?
Ethiopian
This happened 3 million years ago and allowed mammals to migrate between North and South America
Great American Interchange
This land bridge connected North America and Asia
Bering Land Bridge
This land bridge connects North and South America
Panama Land Bridge
How did the Great American Interchange affect North American mammal diversity?
Diversity was unchanged
How did the Great American Interchange affect mammal diversity in South America?
Increased diversity
During the Great American Interchange, these five mammal groups migrated north
Sloths, porcupines, opossums, armadillos, anteaters
During the Great American Interchange, these six mammal groups migrated south
Elephants, canines, felines, camels, bears, horses
What percentage of South American mammals are from North America?
50%
What percentage of North American mammals are from South America?
10%
Did North or South America have more diversity before the Great American Interchange?
North America
What percentage of North American mammals moved to South America?
13%
What percentage of South American mammals moved to North America?
10%
In what three areas did North American mammals have an advantage over South American mammals?
Migration, competition, speciation
This faunal realm has the lowest mammal diversity and the fewest placental mammals
Australasian
How many species are endemic to the Australasian realm?
17
In what two mammal groups are most Australasian endemic species?
Monotremes and marsupials
This is a migration barrier that has separated the Oriental and Australasian realms
Wallace’s Line
How many families of freshwater fish are in the Oriental realm?
28
How many families of freshwater fish are in the Australasian realm?
2
