Island Biogeography

Question 1

what is island biogeography?

Answer 1

the study of the ecological relationships and distribution of organisms on islands and of these organisms’ community structures

Question 2

how have islands been colonized in the past?

Answer 2

by new species arriving from elsewhere

Question 3

have many island species evolved to be specialists or generalists? why?

Answer 3

many island species have evolved to be specialists over generalists because of the limited resources, such as food and territory, on most islands

Question 4

how can the long-term survival of specialists be jeopardized on islands?

Answer 4

it is jeopardized if and when invasive species, typically generalists, are introduced and outcompete the specialists

Question 5

what counts as an island in island biogeography?

Answer 5

islands can be actual islands in a body of water or figurative habitat islands such as central park in NYC or national parks (natural habitats surrounded by human developed land)

Question 6

what are the two basic rules/observations of island biogeography?

Answer 6

1. larger islands support more total species
2. islands closer to the mainland support more species

Question 7

in island biogeography, why do islands closer to the mainland support more species?

Answer 7

they are easier for colonizing organisms to get to the island from the mainland
more colonizing organisms = more genetic diversity in a new population

Question 8

in island biogeography, why do larger islands support more total species?

Answer 8

the larger the island, the greater the ecosystem diversity
greater ecosystem diversity = more habitat and food resources
more niches or roles organisms can play in the ecosystem FIX THIS CARD AND LAST CARD

Question 9

what do larger islands have compared to smaller islands?

Answer 9

they have higher ecosystem diversity, more available niches/roles, larger population sizes, more genetically diverse populations (more resistant to environmental disturbances), and a lower extinction rate

Question 10

because larger islands are more diverse, there is a positive correlation between:

Answer 10

island size and species richness

Question 11

what is an example of there being many niches on a large island?

Answer 11

all the different food sources available to birds on the galápagos islands that they were specifically adapted to eat