Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the general trend in species diversity as you move from the poles to the equator?
What is the general trend in species diversity as you move from the poles to the equator?
Species diversity increases as you move towards the tropics
Why do Mercator projection maps exaggerate the area of terrestrial features in the tropics?
Why do Mercator projection maps exaggerate the area of terrestrial features in the tropics?
Because they distort the area in proportion to the distance from the equator
What is one reason why the tropics have more species than other regions?
What is one reason why the tropics have more species than other regions?
The tropics have more area, which leads to more habitats and niches, and hence more species
How do tropical forests differ from those in other regions in terms of guilds of bird species?
How do tropical forests differ from those in other regions in terms of guilds of bird species?
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Why are mountain passes more effective barriers to gene flow in the tropics?
Why are mountain passes more effective barriers to gene flow in the tropics?
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What is the key variable in determining the effectiveness of mountain passes as barriers to gene flow?
What is the key variable in determining the effectiveness of mountain passes as barriers to gene flow?
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How do organisms living in constant environments differ from those living in variable environments?
How do organisms living in constant environments differ from those living in variable environments?
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What is the relationship between climate uniformity and the ability of organisms to cross adjacent areas?
What is the relationship between climate uniformity and the ability of organisms to cross adjacent areas?
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What is the primary factor that influences the rate of production in different ecosystems, according to the concept of latitudinal gradients?
What is the primary factor that influences the rate of production in different ecosystems, according to the concept of latitudinal gradients?
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What is the characteristic of populations in the tropics, according to Dobzhansky (1950)?
What is the characteristic of populations in the tropics, according to Dobzhansky (1950)?
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What is the relationship between the mean annual temperature and latitude, according to the text?
What is the relationship between the mean annual temperature and latitude, according to the text?
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Why do tropical populations tend to be more K-selected than r-selected, according to MacArthur and Wilson (1967)?
Why do tropical populations tend to be more K-selected than r-selected, according to MacArthur and Wilson (1967)?
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What is the primary factor that contributes to the higher NPP in the tropics?
What is the primary factor that contributes to the higher NPP in the tropics?
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What is the characteristic of populations in temperate regions, according to MacArthur and Wilson (1967)?
What is the characteristic of populations in temperate regions, according to MacArthur and Wilson (1967)?
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What is the concept that describes the geographic patterns of productivity across different ecosystems?
What is the concept that describes the geographic patterns of productivity across different ecosystems?
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What is the term that describes the amount of organic matter accumulated in a unit time?
What is the term that describes the amount of organic matter accumulated in a unit time?
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Study Notes
Latitudinal Gradients of Biodiversity and Productivity
- Latitudinal gradients refer to the broad-scale patterns of geographic variation in biodiversity and productivity across different ecosystems.
- Productivity is defined as the rate of production, i.e., the amount of organic matter accumulated in any unit time, and it differs across different ecosystems.
Temperature in the Tropics
- The tropics have a broad belt of roughly homogeneous temperatures, with a linear decrease in mean annual temperature outside this belt.
- The absence of climatic catastrophes in the tropics allows populations to be closer to their carrying capacity, making them more K-selected than r-selected.
- In contrast, repeated climatic catastrophes in temperate regions keep populations well below their carrying capacity, making them more r-selected.
Gradients in Species Diversity
- The highest diversity of species is found in the tropics, which is attributed to the presence of more territory and habitats.
- The tropics occupy more area than other zones, and this is exaggerated by Mercator projection maps.
- The northern and southern tropics abut, resulting in an area about double that of other zones, leading to more species due to the presence of more habitats and niches.
Additional Factors Contributing to Latitudinal Diversity
- Mountain passes are more effective barriers in the tropics due to the narrower range of temperatures, leading to allopatric speciation.
- Organisms living in a more constant environment (like the tropics) are less able to handle change than those living in variable environments (like temperate regions).
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