Week 12 – Biogeography in the Anthropocene Flashcards
How many (estimated) years ago did single-cell organisms first appear on Earth?
4 billion years
Name three types of catastrophic events that have led to species extinctions, adaptations, and evolution of life on this planet over the ages.
Separation of the continents/Pangaea, Volcanic eruptions, Ice ages,
What does the Theory of Island Biogeography state, and how is the term “island” defined.
States: The relationship between land area and number of species
that affect species richness & diversification
in isolated natural communities.
Island: any ecosystem that is isolated due to
being surrounded by unlike ecosystems or
landscapes
The Theory of Island Biogeography also states that the immigration of colonist species to an “island is affected by what three factors?
1) distance from a source of potential colonists – closer “islands” attract more species
2) size: larger “islands” have more resources and therefore attract more species
3) age of the island habitat – older intact habitats have more diverse, stable ecosystems.
Name (at least) two solutions to conserve and protect ecosystems
1) Indigenous Peoples Land Rights to Natural Areas
2) Habitat Preserves- Conservation and Reservation
What is an exotic or invasive species? What are some traits of invasive species?
Exotic and Invasive species are organisms (plant/animal) that are introduced into habitats where it doesn’t naturally occur
Some traits are: Fast Growth/Rapid
reproduction, High dispersal ability (plants), Tolerant/adaptable to a range of environmental conditions, Consumes Wide range of food
types (generalist), Association with humans, Prior successful invasions
Name two harmful effects of invasive species.
Biodiversity Loss & displacement of
native species and Economic Loss to Farming/Logging
What change in migration times have been observed in migrating birds due to climate change, and what is one other type of adaptation that has been observed.
arriving at northern
spring nesting grounds ~1-2 days earlier
per decade
reduced body size, lengthening wing spans
What is one major threat to wildlife habitat connectivity and a cause of wildlife mortality in this current age?
Highways and other transportation corridors
What are two solutions to the problem of wildlife habitat connectivity?
-Avoid further fragmentation of habitat
-Protect connectivity where habitat is still intact, through permanent conservation and adaptive management
Name two features that are common to natural wildlife corridors, and two that are found in urban areas.
Natural Corridor features: mountain ranges, rivers.
Urban Corridors: railroad lines, utility corridors, urban creeks
Name two types of wildlife crossing structures.
Underpasses or overpasses
Who was P-22, and what did he inspire as a solution for wildlife connectivity in Los Angeles.
P-22 is a Moutain lion that was isolated in a island separated from the rest of his kind in the Santa Monica Mountains, and his story of isolation caused people to propose the US 101
Freeway Wildlife Overcrossing in Los Angeles
