All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the impact of sea level rise on island biogeography?
Answer: Reduces island area, increasing extinction. Smaller land area supports fewer species due to habitat loss.
Flashcard 2: What is the effect of a keystone species on island biodiversity?
Answer: Maintains ecological balance. Critical species support ecosystem structure and function for other organisms.
Flashcard 3: What impact do predators have on island species richness?
Answer: Can reduce species richness. Top consumers can eliminate prey species and alter community structure.
Flashcard 4: How does island shape affect species distribution?
Answer: Irregular shapes can enhance habitat diversity. Complex coastlines create more microhabitats and ecological niches.
Flashcard 5: What role do corridors play in island biogeography?
Answer: Facilitate species dispersal. Connecting pathways allow species movement between isolated habitat patches.
Flashcard 6: What is the impact of human activity on island biogeography?
Answer: Alters species immigration and extinction. Habitat modification and species introductions disrupt natural equilibrium dynamics.
Flashcard 7: What is the primary focus of island biogeography?
Answer: Species distribution and richness. Examines how geographic factors influence species diversity patterns.
Flashcard 8: How does volcanic activity influence island biogeography?
Answer: Creates new land for colonization. Eruptions form new islands available for species colonization and evolution.
Flashcard 9: What is the relationship between island age and species richness?
Answer: Older islands generally have higher richness. Time allows more species to colonize and evolve on established islands.
Flashcard 10: Identify the two key processes in island biogeography.
Answer: Immigration and Extinction. These opposing forces determine the equilibrium number of species on islands.
Flashcard 11: What is a practical application of island biogeography theory in conservation?
Answer: Designing wildlife reserves. Theory guides optimal size and connectivity of protected areas.
Flashcard 12: What is the species-area relationship?
Answer: Species richness increases with area. Mathematical relationship showing species number increases with habitat area.
Flashcard 13: What is the main prediction of the island biogeography theory?
Answer: Equilibrium species number. Theory predicts a stable species count when immigration equals extinction rates.
Flashcard 14: How does island isolation affect species immigration rates?
Answer: Greater isolation lowers immigration. Distance creates dispersal barriers that reduce successful colonization events.
Flashcard 15: What effect does increased island area have on extinction rates?
Answer: Larger area lowers extinction rates. More space and resources reduce competition and support larger populations.
Flashcard 16: Which factor increases the rate of species extinction on an island?
Answer: Smaller island size. Limited resources and habitat space increase competition and population vulnerability.
Flashcard 17: Identify a factor that leads to lower species richness on islands.
Answer: Greater isolation. Distance from source populations reduces colonization and immigration rates.
Flashcard 18: How does island size affect genetic diversity?
Answer: Smaller islands have less genetic diversity. Limited population size reduces genetic variation through founder effects.
Flashcard 19: What is the term for the rate at which species become extinct on an island?
Answer: Extinction Rate. Measures how frequently existing species disappear from islands permanently.
Flashcard 20: Identify a method to test island biogeography theory.
Answer: Field studies on archipelagos. Empirical research in natural island systems validates theoretical predictions.
Flashcard 21: What is the role of primary succession in island formation?
Answer: Establishes initial communities. Pioneer species colonize new volcanic surfaces and begin ecosystem development.
Flashcard 22: What term describes the balance of species immigration and extinction?
Answer: Equilibrium. Dynamic balance reached when immigration and extinction rates are equal.
Flashcard 23: What is the significance of endemism in island ecosystems?
Answer: High levels of unique species. Isolation promotes evolution of species found nowhere else on Earth.
Flashcard 24: What is the impact of habitat fragmentation on species extinction rates?
Answer: Increases extinction rates. Smaller, isolated habitat patches increase species vulnerability to local extinctions.
Flashcard 25: Identify a factor that leads to higher species richness on islands.
Answer: Larger island size. More area provides diverse habitats and resources for multiple species.
Flashcard 26: What is the term for the rate at which new species colonize an island?
Answer: Immigration Rate. Measures how frequently new species successfully establish on islands.
Flashcard 27: What is a key assumption of island biogeography theory?
Answer: Islands are isolated systems. Islands function as closed systems with limited immigration and emigration.
Flashcard 28: What effect do barriers have on species dispersal to islands?
Answer: Barriers reduce dispersal. Physical obstacles limit species movement and colonization between habitats.
Flashcard 29: What is the impact of tourism on island ecosystems?
Answer: Can lead to habitat degradation. Human activities often disrupt natural ecosystems and native species.
Flashcard 30: How do invasive species affect island ecosystems?
Answer: They can increase extinction rates. Non-native species often outcompete or prey on endemic island species.