Explain what habitat heterogeneity means using examples.

Why does habitat heterogeneity cause increased species richness?

Diverse landscapes can support more niches for more species than non-diverse landscapes

Explain what a legacy effect is, and give 3 examples.

Long-lasting influences of historical processes on the current ecology. Volcanic eruptions, advance and retreat of glaciers, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, mudslides, fire suppression, logging

Compare alpha, beta, and gamma diversity, and explain how each is related to the other.

alpha- relatively small area of homogenous habitat

gamma- all the species in all the habitats of a large geographical area

beta- the number of species that do not occur between both two habitats

Describe the species-area relationship.

The larger an area the more species it is likely to have

Discuss 3 things that could cause the species-area relationship

List the changes that occur with habitat fragmentation (5)

the total amount of habitat decreases, the number of habitat patches increases, the average patch size decreases, the amount of edge habitat increases, and patch isolation increases

Identify the differences between the forest edges and the forest interior in terms of light, heat, and moisture.

Edge will experience greater sunlight, warmer temperatures in the summer, and higher rates of evaporation

Explain why forest edges often have more species than the forest interior.

Because forest edges are ecotones and ecotones contain niches of both bordering ecosystems while also creating new niches.

Discuss how the concept of nestedness relates to the SLOSS debate.

Summarize the Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography in your own words.

What would the size and distance from the mainland of an island tell you about how many species it probably has?

Describe patterns of species richness in North America

Explain how glaciation history could lead to differences in terrestrial diversity between two regions