U2: 2.3

Question 1

Describe theory of Island Biogeography

Answer 1

Study of ecological relationships and community structure on islands (islands can be actual islands in a body of water or figurative habitat).

Question 2

Example of island

Answer 2

Islands such as Central Park in New York City or National Parks (natural habitats surrounded by human developed land).

Question 3

Describe the first basic rule/observation

Answer 3

Larger islands support more total species.
•larger the island, greater ecosystem diversity
•greater ecosystem diversity=more food/habitat resources
•more niches or “roles” organisms can play in the ecosystem.

Question 4

Describe the 2nd rule/observation

Answer 4

Islands closer to the “mainland” support more species
•easier for colonizing organisms to get to island from mainland
•more colonizing organisms=more genetic diversity in new population

Question 5

Describe how larger islands support more species

Answer 5

•higher ecosystem diversity
•more available “niches” or roles
•larger population sizes (more genetically diverse/more resists to environmental disturbance)
•lower extinction rate (species less likely to die off)

Question 6

Describe an example of how larger islands support more species

Answer 6

All the different food sources available to birds on Galapagos

Question 7

Describe what correlation there is between island size and species richness

Answer 7

There is a POSITIVE correlation between island sizes and species richness

Question 8

Describe distance to mainland

Answer 8

Closer to mainland=higher species richness

Question 9

Describe benefits of being closer to the mainland

Answer 9

•easier for more species to migrate to island from mainland (swim/fly)
•more continual migration of individuals to the island habitat

Question 10

Example of the benefits of being closer to the mainland

Answer 10

Frequent migration brings more genetic diversity and larger population size

Question 11

Inverse of distance to mainland

Answer 11

Inverse relationship between island distance from mainland and species richness

Question 12

Example of inverse of distance to mainland

Answer 12

The further away from mainland, the fewer species

Question 13

Describe Evolution on Islands

Answer 13

Single colonizing species from mainland quickly evolves to many slightly different species to adapt to new island conditions

Question 14

Example of evolution on islands

Answer 14

Different bird beaks quickly revolve to fit variety of different food sources on an island