Biol 203 Ecology Final Exam Completely Solved(RATED A+)

Biogeography - ANSWER Study of variation in species composition and diversity across geographic locations regional species pool - ANSWER all the species contained within a region (gamma diversity) gamma diversity - ANSWER total species diversity in a landscape alpha diversity - ANSWER Species physiology and interactions with other species are important factors in the resulting species diversity beta diversity - ANSWER change in species, or turnover, from one community type to another; connects local and regional scales continental drift - ANSWER movement of landmasses across Earth's surface Pangaea - ANSWER The name of the single landmass that broke apart 250 million years ago and gave rise to today's continents -Laurasia separated from Pangaea about 150 mya and subsequently split into North America, Europe, and Asia -Gondwana split into South America, Africa, Antarctica, and India landscape ecology - ANSWER emphasizes the causes and consequences of spatial variation in surface features and biota across a range of scales landscape elements - ANSWER the ecosystems in a landscape, which generally form a mosaic of visually distinctive patches. The spatial arrangements (forest patches, soil types, lakes, etc.) that influence what species live in an area and the dynamics of ecological processes. landscape structure - ANSWER physical configuration of the landscape elements. Characterized by size of patches, wether patches are aggregated or dispersed, complexity of patch shape, degree of fragmentation. Affects ecological processes ecological processes - ANSWER relationships between organisms and their environments. E.g. ecosystem processes such as: Watercycling, Biogeochemical cycling, Energy movement Nutrients cycling, Pollutants habitat heterogeneity - ANSWER Describes a habitat or community that has a complex physiognomy or structure, including in the distribution, density, and relative heights of plants within it. legacy effects - ANSWER a long-lasting influence of historical processes on the current ecology of an area edge effects - ANSWER Changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two or more habitats