Ecology of Biodiversity

Question 1

How could the # of species in the tropics end up so much higher towards the poles?

Answer 1

S > E

Question 2

nidus

Answer 2

areas where diversity is much higher than surrounding areas (hotspot)

Question 3

Nidus Examples

Answer 3

coral reef, kelp forest

Question 4

endemism

Answer 4

when species only occur in one place

Question 5

nidus occur where…

Answer 5

species ranges overlap, there’s a high degree of endemism

Question 6

Examples of Endemism

Answer 6

Cichlid fishes of African Rift Lakes, Amphipods in Lake Baikal

Question 7

Terrestrial Biomes

Answer 7

areas defined by common seasonal pattern of temperature and precipitation

Question 8

What is a Primary Producer?

Answer 8

an organism that photosynthesizes

Question 9

Photosynthesizing is converting ___ (____) into ___ (___)

Answer 9

CO2 (inorganic), CH2O (carbohydrate)

Question 10

Fixing Carbon

Answer 10

taking it biologically and turning it into its usable form

Question 11

Herbivore

Answer 11

feeds on plants or primary producers, either in whole or in part

Question 12

Predator (Scavenger)

Answer 12

feeds on parts or whole other non-photosynthetic organisms

Question 13

Filter Feeders

Answer 13

take lots of organisms and organic matter and filters out water

Question 14

Omnivores

Answer 14

will eat anything

Question 15

Decomposer

Answer 15

feed on dead organic matter

Question 16

Commensal

Answer 16

use another organism as substrate/as a place to attach to

Question 17

Parasitoid

Answer 17

uses another organism (host) as a place to complete larval development; kills the host

Question 18

Which biome is known for having megafauna?

Answer 18

Savanna

Question 19

Latitudinal Gradient

Answer 19

of species increases towards the equator

Question 20

Terrestrial Biomes

Answer 20

areas defined by common seasonal pattern of temperature and precipitation

Question 21

Keystone Predator

Answer 21

exerts top-down control on lower trophic levels by limiting population size of its prey