Ecology of Biodiversity Flashcards
How could the # of species in the tropics end up so much higher towards the poles?
S > E
nidus
areas where diversity is much higher than surrounding areas (hotspot)
Nidus Examples
coral reef, kelp forest
endemism
when species only occur in one place
nidus occur where…
species ranges overlap, there’s a high degree of endemism
Examples of Endemism
Cichlid fishes of African Rift Lakes, Amphipods in Lake Baikal
Terrestrial Biomes
areas defined by common seasonal pattern of temperature and precipitation
What is a Primary Producer?
an organism that photosynthesizes
Photosynthesizing is converting ___ (____) into ___ (___)
CO2 (inorganic), CH2O (carbohydrate)
Fixing Carbon
taking it biologically and turning it into its usable form
Herbivore
feeds on plants or primary producers, either in whole or in part
Predator (Scavenger)
feeds on parts or whole other non-photosynthetic organisms
Filter Feeders
take lots of organisms and organic matter and filters out water
Omnivores
will eat anything
Decomposer
feed on dead organic matter
Commensal
use another organism as substrate/as a place to attach to
Parasitoid
uses another organism (host) as a place to complete larval development; kills the host
Which biome is known for having megafauna?
Savanna
Latitudinal Gradient
of species increases towards the equator
Terrestrial Biomes
areas defined by common seasonal pattern of temperature and precipitation
Keystone Predator
exerts top-down control on lower trophic levels by limiting population size of its prey
