In the review article, “Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography and Ecology”, Simberloff (1974) described how the equilibrium hypothesis can be used to explain island biogeography. According to the author, islands offer significant scientific, economic, evolutionary, or ecologic importances due to their unique characteristics (isolation, insular depauperization). However, detailed study on the somewhat puzzling island biogeography is limited. Therefore, Simberloff (1974) provided an in-depth research
Examine critically the Equilibrium Theory of island biogeography. In your answer you are expected to critique its validity and practical usefulness An Island is undoubtfully an appealing study unit. It is less complex than continents or oceans, a visibly distinct object that can be labelled with a title and its resident populations identified thereby (MacArthur RH, Wilson EO, 1967). From a perspective of biogeographical science, MacArthur and Wilson proceed to state that islands are the first
Biogeography is the study of the geographical distribution of flora and fauna across the earth’s landscapes. Biogeography is actually a subset of biology, however physical geographers have made many contributions to the discipline making it a part of Geography as well. The study of biogeography divides the earth’s surface into regions called biomes based on the composition of flora and fauna as a result of current and historical causes. These causes are brought about through evolutionary processes
Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900, by ecological historian Alfred W. Crosby explores how “portmanteau biota”, helped Europeans to eradicate whole societies in the Neo-Europes (xv, 89). Crosby believes that temperate zones, climates similar to that of Europe, allowed European biota to thrive, which allowed for European expansion. Crosby discusses the Norse invasions and the Crusades as examples of how Europeans were not able to expand. Crosby claims that climate
According to Campbell and Reece (2007) biogeography is the study of the past and present distribution of species. Cristopherson (1994) states that it is the study of the distribution of plants, animals and related ecosystems and the geographical relationships with related environments over time. It involves a wide range of disciplines such as biology, geology, geography and ecology. It begs the question, why are there so many more species in tropical rainforests than in woodlands? What allows a species
they are becoming extinct. Animal mapping is a processes that scientist use to gather information on animals in different areas all around the world. The two main types of scientists that deal with animal mapping are Conservation biologists and, Biogeography. In order to do mapping you must find the areas the animals are located and count the numbers of animals found in that location. Then search all the areas around the main area to see if there are any of the same animals in those regions. This process
other sciences like physics, geology, mathematics, meteorology, hydrodynamics, chemistry, zoology and botany 4. Biogeography: It gives a spatial and temporal analysis of distribution of plants and animals on the earth surface. It is the branch too closely associated with human beings as it studies Biosphere, which is called as the life layer since, it supports life. The scope of biogeography is again very vast as it is also interdisciplinary in nature and hence is a synthetic science and strongly relates
general explanation of a natural phenomenon with consistent evidence gained through repeated evidence and from doing many experiments. Evolution is a theory because of all the evidence found through fossils, molecular biology, embryology, physiology, biogeography, homologies etc. Evolution has been thoroughly tested. My personal opinion is that evolution does exist. I believe that species are constantly evolving into new species and that the geography of the world affects the evolution of species. I do
plains, mountains, and coastlines. The combination of such varied geography provides many elements to consider when analyzing Korea’s physical environment. This essay will seek to provide a general understanding of the geography, climatology, and biogeography of the components that make up Korea’s physical environment. Geography The northern and eastern part of the Korean Peninsula terrain is covered with both high and low mountains. Baekdudaegan, the mountain range that runs along the eastern portion
AGenetic Drift is the variation in a population’s allele frequencies from one generation to the next as a result of chance events. Genetic Drift may cause some genes to disappear, and overall reducing the genetic variation in a certain population. There are two types of Genetic Drift: Bottleneck Effect and Founder Effect . An example of Genetic Drift would be the American Bison, which suffered a huge reduction in population numbers, after succumbing to the bottleneck effect . Due to the quick killings
Discerning the spatial patterns of biodiversity and understanding their ultimate (why) and proximate (how) causes is very dear to biogeography and is one of the key concepts of Macro ecology. Some places on earth contain more species as compared to others. All species occurring at a given space and time either originated (speciated) there or dispersed and arrived from another place and settled there. Biogeographers try to understand the past and current distributions of species by incorporating historical
on certain water conditions to maintain vital functions and the environment which is damaged by highly acidic waters. There is great variation in the acidity of each of the oceans, differences caused by the chemical composition of the ocean and biogeography. Understanding of the potential impacts of ocean acidification is relatively new to the scientific community and therefore little is known on how to counteract anthropogenic influences. Although reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced will
theory of evolution is precisely that kind of theory because it has been confirmed in every situation in which its predictions were tested and the evidence for it lies in the fossil record, comparative anatomy, embryology, molecular biology and biogeography. The theory of evolution is quite sophisticated scientific theory that has received a lot of misinterpretation and distortion. However, it can be explained very simply by integrating several important concepts into one definition. Coyne (2009,
In his essay, “My Island Life,” Luke Harmon discusses the importance of islands and how they have been used by evolutionary biologists to study evolution and diversification on Earth. Harmon focuses on biogeography and on how different species are distributed across the Earth. Harmon also makes a point to mention how human introduction of invasive species is rapidly causing islands around the Earth to become uniform and less diversified. Harmon’s research on the evolutionary history of lizards found
Since the beginning of the human race there has been a lingering question as to the origins of man and how all living things acquired their characteristics. The two main theories that arose over time were Creationism and Evolution, both of which provided very distinct answers to this question. Creationism based its answer on the idea of a supernatural power or being that created the entire universe, man and the numerous other organisms that live within it. While, Evolution theorizes that all living
several routes and dispersed throughout the world. Since the ventured out of Africa, the Asian groups migrated to Southeast regions first, then they headed north to East Asia during the last glaciation; this could be seen using evidence from the biogeography, but more accurately the evidence came from the male chromosome
2007. "Abandonment of farmland and vegetation succession following the Eurasian plague pandemic ofad 1347–52." Journal of Biogeography 34, no. 4: 575-582. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 6, 2011). Yeloff, Dan, and Bas van Geel. 2007. "Abandonment of farmland and vegetation succession following the Eurasian plague pandemic ofad 1347–52." Journal Of Biogeography 34, no. 4: 575-582. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 6, 2011).
In an increasingly global world geography matters now more than ever. With so many groundbreaking technological advances within the last 50 years the world is rapidly evolving into a more interconnected and codependent society. These strides of advancement not only allow for international business interactions, but it allows instant communication to make business more cohesive. As a more interconnected society it is important for every person to understand the locations and cultural motivations of
situation. Toponym is the name of the place, site is the description of the features of the place, and situation is the environmental conditions of the place. Every place in the world has its own characteristics. The places landforms, hydrology, biogeography, pedology, etc., is different from all the other places, and its patterns of human habitation is also different. The place’s human characteristics are defined by the nature and size of its human population, the distinct human cultures, their ways
Mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) · Mimic octopus females differ from the female of other octopus species as they don’t stop foraging and feeding while they’re carrying their eggs. · Mimic octopuses have a unique strategy to avoid predators. They are able to impersonate different animals (some scientists believe they are able to mimic up to 15 different animal species), such as sea snakes, lionfish, jellyfish and flatfish. · While they are mimicking other animals they