Lecture 15 - Gavin

Question 1

What is Allen’s rule?

Answer 1

That shorter appendages conserve heat and longer ones are more effective in dissipating it.

Question 2

How do beak show Allen’s rule?

Answer 2

Big beaks dissipate heat and hot birds have big beaks.

*Actually found lower latitudes beaks are longer… pretty much the same.

Question 3

Which accumulates species faster, one large island or several small ones?

Answer 3

Several small islands typically accumulate species faster

Question 4

What’s the most important factor for species conservation.

Answer 4

Number of species conserved.

Question 5

What’s the best approach for conservation?

Answer 5

Optimal choice #1

Question 6

What % of global land area is ‘protected’ and what proportion of discovered species are protected?

Answer 6

11.5% of global land surfaces are protected areas.

Around ~20%ish of discovered species are protected

Question 7

What is the Edge:Area ratio important for in biodiversity?

Answer 7

Basically, ‘core’ of islands are typically more important to conserve.

Allee effects may occur.

Question 8

What’s an Allee effect?

Answer 8

Basically, some species do better in groups.

At low populations there’s less groups, so species become ‘less efficient’ hence more vulnerable.

Question 9

What considerations for major events should be made when deciding whether to conserve a large island or several smaller ones?

Answer 9

A major event may totally wipe a large island, compared to fractional effects on other islands.

Also large islands may provide the chance of recolonization.