BIOL 180 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Niche Differentiation, Species Richness, Biogeography

• School: UW
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOL 180
• Professor: John W Parks

Document Summary

Species richness: a count of how many species are present in a given community. Species diversity: a weighted measure that incorporates the species" relative abundance. When only a few species dominate o o. Predicting species richness: the theory of island biogeography. Larger patches of habitat = more species o. Larger areas have more types of niches --> support higher number of species. Smaller patches of habitat = less species. Islands have smaller numbers of species than do areas of the same size on continents. Islands have smaller numbers of species than do areas of the same size on continents o. Speciation occurs so slowly the number of species = just due to immigration and extinction. Immigration rates should decline as # of species on island increases. Individuals that arrive are more likely to be members of a species that is. Competition would prevent new species from establishing a new population. Extinction rates should increase as species richness increases.