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Neotropical Region and Biodiversity Quiz
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Neotropical Region and Biodiversity Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What significant event led to the separation of marsupials from their ancestral groups?

  • A mass migration of species
  • The glaciation of Antarctica (correct)
  • The shift of the continents
  • The formation of mountains

    • Which of the following groups was NOT mentioned as successfully dispersing across the world's zoogeographical regions?

  • Cervids
  • Soricids
  • Primates (correct)
  • Bovids

    • Which factor primarily explains the lack of indigenous terrestrial mammals or birds in Antarctica?

  • Inability of species to adapt
  • High levels of competition from seals
  • Extreme temperatures all year round
  • Glaciation of the continent (correct)

    • According to the concept of dispersalism, how are related taxa found on either side of a barrier explained?

    <p>They crossed the barrier after it formed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of the fauna currently supported by Antarctica?

    <p>High diversity of seals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant factor contributing to the distinct fauna of the Neotropical region compared to the Nearctic?

    <p>The presence of continental drift and separation of the land masses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following animals is a Neotropical mammal that has also survived in the Nearctic region?

    <p>Opossums</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which family of mammals is considered endemic to the Neotropical region?

    <p>Cebidae (New World monkeys)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of bird diversity in South America is noted in the content?

    <p>Half of the bird families are endemic to the region</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following mammals is NOT mentioned as part of the Neotropical fauna?

    <p>Elephants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which animal group is mentioned as having reached South America by rafting?

    <p>New world monkeys</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one proposed hypothesis for the increased species richness in the tropics?

    <p>Greater geographical area covered by the tropics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does species richness vary with altitude according to the information provided?

    <p>Decreases with increasing altitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of latitudinal gradients in species richness?

    <p>Increased species richness in tropical regions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which genera of skink are noted for having rafted from Africa?

    <p>Mabuya and Trachylepis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor is not mentioned as influencing the distribution of animals across the earth?

    <p>Presence of invasive species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs to mean annual temperatures as one moves away from the tropics?

    <p>They decrease linearly with latitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these statements is not true regarding the rafting of animals?

    <p>Skinks have rafted to Africa from Asia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant indicator that the continents had drifted apart?

    <p>The coastlines of eastern South America and western Africa fitting together</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which geological evidence suggests the continents were once in different climatic zones?

    <p>Africa was covered in ice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can the age of volcanic rocks be determined?

    <p>Using the magnetic alignment of iron particles during their formation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused the dispersal of fauna between North America and Eurasia?

    <p>Physical barriers like mountains and shallow seas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which line of evidence connects the continental outlines with geological formations?

    <p>Fossil distribution across continents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of geomagnetism in understanding continental drift?

    <p>It reveals the past positions of continents related to magnetic poles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which geological period was South Africa glaciated?

    <p>250 million to 350 million years ago</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence for continental drift?

    <p>The height of mountain ranges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon describes large mammals becoming smaller on islands over time?

    <p>Insular dwarfism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which animal groups are more likely to experience gigantism on islands?

    <p>Birds and reptiles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of island birds according to the information provided?

    <p>They develop into large flightless forms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary reason large mammals tend to become dwarfed on islands?

    <p>Lack of space and food resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are large mammalian predators often absent from islands?

    <p>They require a large range to survive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one reason proposed for small species growing larger in island environments?

    <p>Absence of natural predators.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of island dwarfism?

    <p>Dwarf elephants from Mediterranean islands</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What body weight does the dwarf elephant from Mediterranean islands approximately represent relative to its ancestor?

    <p>2% of its ancestor's weight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Neotropical Region

    • Extends from southern Mexico to southern Brazil
    • Includes the Amazon rainforest
    • Fauna is diverse and distinct from the Nearctic region
    • This difference is due to the continents' separation until 15 million years ago
    • Armadillos, opossums, and porcupines are the only Neotropical mammals found in the Nearctic
    • Neotropical region lacks the plains ungulates found in the Nearctic and Ethiopian regions

    Bird Diversity

    • South America is referred to as the "bird continent"
    • Half of bird families and two orders are endemic (unique to the region)
    • Toucans, trumpeters, hoatzins, and macaws are examples of endemic birds
    • Hummingbirds are common but not endemic

    Mammal Families

    • Total number of families (excluding bats) is 32
    • Cosmopolitan families (found worldwide) account for 10 of these
    • Endemic families account for 16 of these
    • Endemic families include:
      • Caenolescidae (mouse-like opossums)
      • Cebidae (New World monkeys)
      • Callithricidae (Marmosets)
      • Myrmecophagidae (South American anteaters)

    Marsupial Distribution

    • Recent genetic data suggests that marsupials originated in South America
    • They spread across Antarctica to Australia
    • The glaciation of Antarctica separated these groups
    • Antarctica currently has no indigenous terrestrial mammals or birds
    • It holds the highest diversity of seals

    Successful Wanderers

    • Several faunal families successfully dispersed globally
    • These include shrews, squirrels, hamsters, lemmings, voles, field mice, hares, rabbits, deer, bears, dogs, cats, and weasels
    • Bovids (cattle, sheep, plains game) dispersed globally except in the Neotropical and Australian regions

    Continental Drift

    • The theory of continental drift emerged from various pieces of evidence
    • The coastlines of eastern South America and western Africa fit together
    • The similarity of geological formations on these continents further supports the theory
    • The presence of similar fossils on these continents also contributes to the evidence
    • Geomagnetism also supports the theory:
      • Rocks containing iron minerals become magnetised during their formation
      • The magnetic field of the Earth changes periodically, allowing for dating of rocks
      • This allows for the determination of the rock's location in relation to the Earth's magnetic poles

    Rafting

    • Rafting played a significant role in the colonization of islands and continents
    • New World monkeys, caviomorph rodents, and certain skink genera likely reached South America by rafting from Africa

    Latitudinal Gradients

    • There are latitudinal gradients in species richness
    • Species richness is higher in the tropics than at higher latitudes
    • This pattern repeats across altitudinal gradients
    • Several hypotheses explain these patterns:
      • Geographical area hypothesis: The tropics cover a larger area, supporting more species and larger ranges
      • Temperature hypothesis: Tropical regions have more uniform temperatures allowing for larger ranges and populations

    Island Dwarfism and Gigantism

    • Island dwarfism occurs when large mammals become smaller on islands due to limited resources
    • Island gigantism occurs when small species grow larger on islands due to the absence of predators
    • Examples of island dwarfism include:
      • Dwarf elephants (extinct) on Mediterranean islands
      • These elephants weighed about 200 kg, a fraction of their continental counterparts

    Processes of Animal Distribution Across Continents

    • Early biogeographers assumed species evolved in a specific area and dispersed from there
    • This is known as dispersalism
    • This concept is insufficient to explain all distribution patterns
    • The history of the Southern Hemisphere is complex
    • The major continents of the Northern Hemisphere were never far apart.
    • The movement of continental seas and the rise or erosion of mountains influenced faunal dispersal.

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    Related Documents

    ZOOV112 Course notes, 2024.pdf

    Description

    Test your knowledge about the Neotropical region, which stretches from southern Mexico to southern Brazil and includes the Amazon rainforest. This quiz covers unique fauna, bird diversity, and the distinct mammal families found in this biodiverse area. Challenge yourself to learn more about this fascinating ecological zone.

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