Topic 15

Question 1

Describe 2 forms of human pressure in biodiversity patterns

Answer 1

• oil wells
• logging

Question 2

How strong is the relationship between area of islands and their numbers of species?

Answer 2

Very strong

Question 3

What determines the amounts of species on an island?

Answer 3

1. Immigration to an island is easier closer to the mainland
2. Extinction rates are lower on large islands

Question 4

Why does immigration to islands decline as distance grows from the mainland?

Answer 4

1. It is harder to find the island
2. Mortality increases on the trip to the mainland

Question 5

What effects extinction rates on larger islands?

Answer 5

Larger population sizes have a lower extinction risk

Question 6

Why are extinction rates proportional to number of species present?

Answer 6

Increases in diversity leads to increases in competition leading to extinction rates rising over every island

Question 7

What island characteristics determine immigration?

Answer 7

Nearness to mainland

Question 8

What island characteristic determines extinction?

Answer 8

Island size

Question 9

What are the slopes of immigration and extinction curves on the theory of island biogeography graph?

Answer 9

Immigration slopes downwards, and extinction slopes upwards

Question 10

What equations do we need to know for island biogeography?

Answer 10

1. S(species richness) = c(intercept)*A(Area)^z(slope)

Question 11

For the species richness equation, what are the axes of the graph where C and Z are taken from?

Answer 11

Number of species on the y axis and area of the island at the X axis

Question 12

according to island biogeography, how does species richness move in relation to area?

Answer 12

it increases rapidly at first and then slowly as habitat area increases

Question 13

What does the non-linear relationship between island area and species richness signify?

Answer 13

It does not take a proportionate amount of land to preserve most of the species richness in n area,

Question 14

What are the two proponents of Diamonds park rules

Answer 14

1. Larger is better
2. More connected is better

Question 15

What is better for conservation? A circle park or a thin strip of park? Why?

Answer 15

The circle because there is less edge exposure.

Question 16

What is the SLOSS debate?

Answer 16

The single large or several small reserve debate

Question 17

Why could several small reserves be better? Why is this wrong?

Answer 17

The non linear relationship between area ad numbers of species, lower areas can hold proportionately higher number of species. This is wrong because the species that would be protected with small reserves would be very easily adaptable and competitive versus conserving species that are vulnerable of extinction.

Question 18

What does disease contribute to the SLOSS debate?

Answer 18

It helps the several small argument

Question 19

What does real world experiment say about the SLOSS debate?

Answer 19

Large habitat maintains diversity much more effectively. Extinction happens much less in larger parks long term.