macroecology Flashcards
What is macroecology?
Macroecology seeks to identify general emergent patterns in biological systems across different spatial and temporal scales, including patterns of abundance, distribution, and diversity.
What does the species-energy relationship indicate?
The species-energy relationship suggests that more species are found in tropical regions, at lower elevations, and in shallow waters due to higher energy availability.
What is the relationship between species abundance and range size?
Species with limited distributions tend to be rare, while species with wider distributions tend to be more abundant. Habitat generalists tend to have broader distributions, and large populations have more offspring, which increases their chances of spreading.
How does range size relate to body size?
Large animals generally have larger home ranges due to higher energetic requirements. There is a negative relationship between abundance and body size, with larger animals typically being less abundant.
What is the relationship between scale and biodiversity?
On a global scale, geography plays a key role, with species richness declining as distance from the Coral Triangle increases. On a local scale, habitat characteristics, such as live coral cover, influence species richness.
What makes the Coral Triangle ecologically important?
The Coral Triangle hosts 75% of coral species, 40% of coral reef fish species, and 6/7 turtle species, making it a biodiversity hotspot. It could be a center of origin, overlap, or accumulation, but the exact reason is still unclear.
What is the theory of island biogeography?
The theory of island biogeography suggests that larger areas and greater connectivity reduce the likelihood of extinction. Larger areas provide more resources, increasing carrying capacity and supporting more individuals.
What is the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition?
- Intraspecific competition occurs between individuals of the same species.
- Interspecific competition occurs between individuals of different species.
Both types of competition limit resources and population growth.
What is modern coexistence theory?
Modern coexistence theory posits that niche differences (diet, habitat, space, time) are more important than fitness differences (growth rate, fecundity, mortality, energy use) in allowing species to coexist.
What does the neutral theory of biodiversity propose?
The neutral theory of biodiversity argues that ecological differences between species are irrelevant. Speciation, extinction, and immigration drive community composition, rather than ecological interactions.
