GE201 Introduction to Biogeography and Ethnobiology Lecture Notes PDF

GE201: INTRODUCTION TO BIOGEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOBIOLOGY Dr Stephen Galvin Lecture 1 – Introduction Today Housekeeping matters and overview of GE201 Coordinator: Dr Stephen Galvin [email protected] Room 11, School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment, Lower Campus Tuesdays and Wednesd...

GE201: INTRODUCTION TO BIOGEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOBIOLOGY Dr Stephen Galvin Lecture 1 – Introduction Today Housekeeping matters and overview of GE201 Coordinator: Dr Stephen Galvin [email protected] Room 11, School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment, Lower Campus Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11-12  My Research Tree rings (dendrochronology) Impact of volcanic eruptions Climate Tree growth Ireland Learn how changes in weather impact growth of Pinus caribaea in Fiji Identify the impact of invasive alien species (IAS) in Colo-i-Suva? Understanding of the Atmosphere Lithosphere Biosphere  GE201 and You This course… presents the basic concepts of Biogeography guides you into a complex field of knowledge intends to spark your interest in the discipline You should… be curious be critical ask questions And recognise links to other disciplines! Course Textbook Barry, CB and Moore, PD (2013) Biogeography – An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach. 8th edition. New Jersey: Wiley and Sons Other Useful Textbooks (Just for Interest) Whittaker, RJ and Fernández-Palacios (2007) Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Press. Book is the main textbook for GE301 – Applied Pacific Island Biogeography and Ethnobiology Other Useful Textbooks (Just for Interest) Huggett, RJ (2004) Fundamentals of Biogeography. 2nd edition. London: Routledge  Course Outline is Available on Moodle – Get a Copy! Lectures Tuesdays 12-1 (136-001 – Marine Studies Lower Campus) Wednesdays 3-4 (136-001 – Marine Studies Lower Campus) Tutorials Will start in Week 2 (next week) Discussion questions will be provided every Friday for the Monday 8-9 am 134-107B following weeks’ classes Wednesday 8-9 am 134-GEO01 Attendance will be taken at these – you must attend at least Wednesday 4-5 pm 134-107B 60% of these tutorials in order to pass GE201 Thursday 2-3 pm 134-GEO01 Sign-up links available on Moodle Thursday 3-4 pm 134-GEO01 Pick a class and stick with that class for the semester! Friday 2-3 pm 134-107B Practicals Three practical exercises for GE201 Will take place during your normal Tutorial classes in weeks 3, 5, and 10 Worth 15% of your final grade (5% each) 75% attendance required to pass the unit Monday 8-9 am 134-107B Wednesday 8-9 am 134-GEO01 Wednesday 4-5 pm 134-107B Thursday 2-3 pm 134-GEO01 Thursday 3-4 pm 134-GEO01 Friday 2-3 pm 134-107B Personal Essay – Motivations for Enrolling in GE201 750 word (minimum) personal essay giving an insight into why you were inspired to select your particular degree path What inspired you to enroll in this degree? Why are you taking GE201 (do not say ‘because it is compulsory’! If the unit is compulsory, it is because you are enrolled in a BSc in Environmental Science – explain why you are doing this BSc). What do you hope to achieve in this unit? What do you hope to achieve at USP? What are your aspirations for once you have completed your degree? Where would you like to work? What do you see yourself doing in 10 years? These are just ideas; you can write about anything for this assignment as long as it involves some personal reflection on your motivations for enrolling in your degree and taking GE201 Personal Essay – Motivations for Enrolling in GE201 The first paragraph should introduce yourself, where you are from, and what degree you are enrolled in The final paragraph should be a conclusion What you write for everything in between is up to you (use the questions on the previous slide to get you started?) I do not want you to write the questions from the previous slide and answer them I do not want you to label/use headings for each section of your assignment do not write ‘introduction’ over the first paragraph do not write ‘body’ over the second paragraph do not write ‘conclusion’ over the last paragraph Personal Essay – Motivations for Enrolling in GE201 The deadline for submission is 3 pm on Friday August 2 (next week Friday) Worth 5% of your final mark Must include your name and student ID at the top of the page You will be deducted marks if you do not include this information This is a personal essay and should be written by you, about you Plagiarism will not be accepted Any student who plagiarises the content of their personal essay will receive an automatic zero for this assignment Any use of AI/ChatGPT in ANY GE201 assessment will receive zero Submission blocked until you respond to statement on plagiarism (‘Access to Personal Assignment Submission Dropbox’ on Moodle Field School – 2 reports worth 10% each Sigatoka Sand Dunes and Mount Korobaba (mid-semester break – Monday and Tuesday Sept. 9 and 10) Assignment due Wednesday Oct. 9 (week 11) Moodle Quizzes MCQs based on lecture content at the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 Available for two days 20 minutes to complete Six quizzes worth a total of 5% of your final mark Assessments This Week Read the chapter that has been added to Moodle (“Week One Reading”) Provides some background on what we will look at over the coming weeks  Definition of Biogeography The study of the dynamic patterns, distribution, and abundance of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine biodiversity on Earth in the… Biosphere Lithosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere These can be at any scale  Biodiversity What do you think biodiversity means? Bio: life Diversity: variety Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things Estimated 1.4 to 30 million species identified by scientists! Realistic number being ~8 million Huge variety of life on Earth made possible by complex interactions among all living things (from micro- to macro-organisms)  Biodiversity – 3 Components 1. Variety of ecosystems Lakes, ponds, rivers – all freshwater ecosystems Rocky coast, sand dune, estuary, coral reef – all marine ecosystems Coral reef Community and Ecosystem Agroforest, Koror, Palau  Biodiversity – 3 Components 2. Diversity of number of species Biodiversity studies typically focus on species as this is easier to work with – different species are relatively easier to identify in the field Species are well known and distinct units of diversity – each can be considered to have a particular ‘role’ in the ecosystem The addition/loss of a species may have consequences for the system as a whole Below: all exist in Fiji but easy to differentiate Flying fox Fire ants Fish poison (Pteropus tonganus) (Solenopsis mandibularis) (Barringtonia asiatica)  Biodiversity – 3 Components 3. Diversity of genes Genes made of DNA – building blocks that determine how an organism will develop and what its characteristics will be Below: all bird species but are not the same because there is variety in their genes DNA strand Collared lory Common myna Fiji parrotfinch (Phigys solitarious) (Acridotheres tristis) (Erythrura pealii)  Biogeography Tries to understand how ecosystems and lifeforms (taxa) are supported by: Earth’s energy and Chemical resources Includes the study of: Changes in the distribution (range and abundance) of biodiversity that have taken place over time, and The physical (abiotic), biological (biotic), and human (cultural) factors/reasons responsible for these distributions As well as changes that have taken place in these distributions over time (both short- and long-term)  Biogeography The analysis and explanation of why certain ecosystems or taxa/hierarchical units of life (that is, biodiversity) are found in some places and not in others: What are/were their ranges – are their ranges limited or extensive? Are they contiguous or discontiguous or fragmented and… Why they are abundant or rare (that is, what is/was their abundance) Range: the geographical area within which an organism is found Contiguous: being in contact/beside each other Discontiguous: not sharing a boarder Fragmented: being separated/far apart Abundance: the number of individuals of a species in an area/community Taxonomy Taxonomy and classification and naming of biota Flora: all the plants Fauna: all the animals Biota: all living things The science of the description, identification, classification, and naming of taxa (units of life in a hierarchical classification system, which is phylogenic – related to evolutionary relationships) Taxonomist – someone skilled or trained in taxonomy, usually for a given taxon or a number of taxa (example: the orchid family; class Mammalia) Taxon (plural is taxa): any unit in the classification system (e.g. kingdom, class/order, family, genus, species, subspecies, etc.) Taxonomy Our species: Homo sapiens (binomial) Genus: Homo Species: sapiens Kingdom: animal Phylum: vertebrates/species with spinal columns Class: produce heat internally, have mammary glands Order: large brain, flat nails, opposable thumbs, finger prints Family: tall and without a tail, use hands to gather food and (sometimes) use tools Genus: humans closely related to other species over the last 2.4 million years Species: modern humans Ecosystems, habitats, microhabitats, niches Habitat: general environment where an organism lives (forest, marsh, etc.) Microhabitat: small-scale environment where organisms live (e.g. forest floor: the place where an organism spends most of its time) Niche: role and function that a species plays within a community E.g. vine – lives in a forest (habitat) and its function is to climb up trees (microhabitat); it may have flowers that attract moths or flying foxes so it only blooms at night Sea anemone – habitat, microhabitat, niche? Biogeography The study of the dynamic patterns, distribution, and abundance of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine biodiversity on Earth The study of ecosystems, species, genetic diversity, and whether they are abundant Some organisms are found in many places (ants, pigeons, coconuts etc.) – cosmopolitan (worldwide distribution) Some organisms are restricted in their distribution and only found in certain locations (Fiji tree frog, Solomon Islands' green tree skink) – endemic Biogeography Attempts to understand the: mechanisms, processes, and factors that have led to the dispersal, evolution, and extinction of taxa and ecosystems so that we can use these resources wisely and protect them and their uses and ecological values (‘ecosystem services’) for future generations Any Questions? REMEMBER: Sign-up for tutorial Read “Week 1 reading” available on Moodle to prepare for next week‘s tutorial Start working on your personal assignment for submission Friday August 2 Respond to ‘Access to Personal Essay Assignment Submission Dropbox’ on Moodle