Tropical Rainforests Flashcards
Why do tropical rainforests have such high biodiversity?
Due to high levels of primary productivity due to high solar energy and rainfall/ humidity input.
What is the ESA Theory?
Biodiversity depends upon (1)energy, (2) stability, (3) Area (space).
What is the solar energy hypothesis when biodiversity is involved?
A more productive environment can support more individuals therefore more viable populations which helps support more species.
How do resources boost biodiversity in the tropics?
Resources are available that are not at higher latitudes (e.g., Fruit, nectar, insects etc.
How is specialization different in the tropics?
tropical diversity is higher because niches are narrower. E.g. Insects do not show greater host specificity in tropics than at higher latitudes.
What is intermediate disturbance?
The frequency of disturbance interrupts competition and prevents competition exclusion.
What is frequency-dependent selection?
Intra-specific competition exceeds interspecific competition.
What is UNT?
The ‘Unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography.
- Biodiversity rises until dynamic equilibrium is reached.
- Immigration + Speciation = Extinction.
What is interspecific competition?
The competition for resources between different species.
This specialization drives niche partitioning.
How do predators promote biodiversity?
Selective predators tend to prey disproportionately upon common species whereas/
Non-selective predators (most species) remove prey in proportion to their frequency. Meaning they favor prey with a higher reproductive rate.
What are the problems with the stability-time hypothesis?
- Tropics are not climatically stable
- Speciation can occur quickly
What is the OTT hypothesis?
Large-scale patterns of biodiversity depend on origination rate (O), Extinction rate (E), and Immigration rate (I).
Most taxa originate in the tropics
O highest in the tropics
I is lower in the tropics
E is equal or lower in the tropics
