lecture 11- macroecology

Question 1

what is macroecology?

Answer 1

covers the domain where ecology, biogeography, paleobiology and micro/macroevolution come together

Question 2

what is the latitudinal diversity gradient? (LDG)

Answer 2

the pattern of having lots of species at the equator with diversity decreasing towards the poles

Question 3

2 main categories that drive the global distribution of species (LDG)

Answer 3

1. climatic/ environmental factors (ecology)

2. historical factors (evolution)

Question 4

climatic factors

Answer 4

1. energy/productivity

2. spatial and habitat heterogeneity

Question 5

climate and environment determine…

Answer 5

the number of species that can coexist

Question 6

historical processes:

Answer 6

1. tropical cradles of diversity
2. tropical museums of diversity
3. out of the tropics

Question 7

net diversification

Answer 7

speciation rate - extinction rate

Question 8

tropical cradles of diversity

Answer 8

topics are home to young, rapidly speciating lineages

speciation rate peaks in the tropics

Question 9

tropical museums of diversity

Answer 9

tropics home to old, relictual species

extinction rates decline in the tropics

Question 10

out of the tropics

Answer 10

species form in the tropics and move to the extratropics

Question 11

ecogeographical rules:

Answer 11

Bergmann's rule (body size)
Allen's rule (length of appendages)
Gloger's rule (colour)
Jordan's rule (no. vertebrae)  
Thorson's rule (developmental mode)
Rapoport's rule (range size) 
Foster's 'island' rule (body size)

Question 12

Bergmann’s rule

Answer 12

body size increases at higher latitudes in mammals

Question 13

Allen’s rule

Answer 13

length of appendages in closely related endothermic vertebrates increases in hotter environments
e.g bill size declines with latitude and altitude

Question 14

Jordan’s rule

Answer 14

number of vertebrae in marine fish increases towards higher latitudes