Lecture 3: Biodiversity - From Tropics to Tundra

Question 1

Biome

Answer 1

a zone of Earth determined by large scale climatic and vegetation characteristics.

Question 2

Ecosystem

Answer 2

an interacting community of living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things.

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

the environment in which an organism lives.

Question 4

Increasing diversity nearer to the tropics may be a result of…

Answer 4

more land area in the tropics
higher evolutionary rates in the tropics
climate stability and suitability
mid-domain effet

Question 5

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Answer 5

analysis of biogeographic data by combining several data types (LiDAR, field surveys) and sources ( IUCN, NatureServe, USGS).
Useful for mapping ranges and connectivity, habitat suitability, population status, threats, etc.

Question 6

Satellite Remote Sensing

Answer 6

viewing, processing, and analyzing imagery from satellites, aerial photos, LIDAR, etc.
useful for mapping and monitoring land cover, land use, and change over time.

Question 7

Irreplaceability

Answer 7

incorporates species richness and other factors, with a focus on endemic species.

Question 8

Endemic Species

Answer 8

those found in a specific geographic area and nowhere else.

Question 9

Vulnerability

Answer 9

reflects the degree of threat, including factors such as habitat loss and protected area coverage.

Question 10

Proactive

Answer 10

creating/controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened.

Question 11

Reactive

Answer 11

acting in response to a situation rather than creating/controlling it.