Species Abundance and Diversity Flashcards
1
Q
community
A
an association of interacting species inhabiting a defined area
- boundaries: sharp, diffuse, mosaic
2
Q
species abundance
A
most are moderately abundant
- bell shaped curve called lognormal distribution
3
Q
species diversity and factors that determine it
A
a combination of the number of species and their relative abundance defines species diversity
- the number of species int eh community (species richness)
- the relative abundance of species (species evenness)
4
Q
species diversity and environmental complexity
A
diversity is higher in complex environments
- number of species of birds that feed at different layers of vegetation increases with forest stature
- increased nutrient availability can reduce environmental complexity and lower algal and plant diversity
5
Q
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
A
diversity is highest with intermediate disturbance
- no one species has time to outcompete rest
- trade-ffs between dispersal and competitive abilities
6
Q
alpha diversity
A
within a habitat
7
Q
beta diversity
A
between habitat
8
Q
gamma (Y) diversity
A
regional or geographic
9
Q
local and regional diversity and turnover equation
A
Y = a + b
