Lecture 21: Chapter 17- Landscape dynamics

Question 1

landscape

Answer 1

-spatially heterogeneous area (mosaic) composed of patches (landscape units)
-habitats with different physical properties
-communities in different stages of succession

Question 2

mosaic

Answer 2

spatially heterogeneous area

Question 3

matrix

Answer 3

between patches kind of like a cytoplasm

Question 4

patch

Answer 4

landscape components (habitats/communities)

Question 5

edge

Answer 5

the boundary of a patch
-edge species: require two habitats like an open area for feeding and an enclosed area for resting

Question 6

edge effect

Answer 6

-edges often are areas of greater biodiversity
-edges have a greater risk of predation because predators travel along edges

Question 7

ecotone

Answer 7

transition between large landscape units
-example is a riparian forest

Question 8

Describe how the size of a patch affects the relative size of the core and edge and the biodiversity of a patch

Answer 8

-the smaller/thinner a patch, the larger its edge

Question 9

Describe the theory of island biogeography

Answer 9

the larger the island (patch), the greater the number of species is

Question 10

How does distance from the mainland affect the immigration rate and the size of the island on the extinction rate

Answer 10

-HIGHER distance means LOWER immigration and NO CHANGE for extinction because it is a random event and depends more on the number of species present
-SMALLER size means HIGHER extinction because there is a smaller population, making it easier for them to die out

Question 11

shortcomings of the theory of island biogeography

Answer 11

-human activity has an effect on species richness and this is not taken into account for the theory
-speciation also isn’t taken into account even though it happens in addition to immigration

Question 12

describe the theory of metapopulation and how the isolation of a patch affects the rate of colonization and the size of a patch extinction

Answer 12

-metapopulation theory examines the colonization and local extinction of local populations of a species on an array of patches in a broader landscape
-MORE isolation means LOWER rate of colonization and NO CHANGE in extinction
-SMALLER size means HIGHER rates of extinction because smaller population

Question 13

Discuss how the size of a nature preserve may affect its biodiversity, the chance of survival of specific species, and why landscape managers establish corridors to connect smaller nature preserve

Question 14

How would you protect a species?

Answer 14

more patches
bigger patches
closer patches
corridors