BIOGEOGRAPHY EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Biogeography - ANSWER the study of the distribution of organisms and the
processes responsible for those patterns
Ecology - ANSWER the study of the interactions of organisms with other
organisms and the physical environment
Similarities between ecology and biogeography - ANSWER -ecology often
provides explanations for many biogeographic patterns. Identifies the factors
and processes that create the spatial arrangement of an environment.
-Very much sister disciplines
-Ecology focuses on smaller scales and shorter periods
Questions of biogeography - ANSWER 1. Why do organisms live where they
do?
2. Why is this place more or less diverse than another?
3. How and why have communities or ecosystems in an area changed over
time?
Sub-disciplines of biogeography - ANSWER Ecological
Historical
Cultural
Ecological Biogeography - ANSWER Concerned with the characteristics of
species and populations, interactions with the biotic and abiotic environment,
biogeomorphology, vegetation dynamics and landscape ecology
Life history - ANSWER the cycle of life stages of an organisms and the stage
timing, and events associated with the stages
Demography - ANSWER the study of size, structure and distribution of
populations, and spatial and/or temporal changes in them in response to birth,
death, migration and aging
, Characteristics of species and populations - ANSWER Includes:
Life history
Demography
Behavior
Interactions with biotic and abiotic environment - ANSWER Competition
Predation
Anthropogenic disturbances
Climate
Soil
Natural Disturbances
Biogeomorphology - ANSWER the influence of organisms on characteristics
and changes in landforms, and vice versa
Vegetation dynamics - ANSWER changes in patterns of plant populations and
communities through time due to processes such as climate change and
disturbance
Landscape ecology - ANSWER examines the influence of spatial
heterogeneity and changes in the landscape on ecological processes such as the
distribution and flow of energy, material and individuals in the environment
Historical Biogeography - ANSWER Origins, dispersal, environments, and
speciation in the past.
-Where did an organism come from and how did it get to where it is today?
-Geological and climate influences on the isolation and divergence of
population/species
Taxonomic/evolutionary biogeography - ANSWER reconstructing
evolutionary relationships among different taxa using biochemical,
morphological, or genetic markers often with inferences made about isolating
factors that led to divergence
Paleo-environmental reconstructions - ANSWER Uses techniques that provide
surrogate information from which inferences about characteristics and changes
in past environments are made
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Biogeography - ANSWER the study of the distribution of organisms and the
processes responsible for those patterns
Ecology - ANSWER the study of the interactions of organisms with other
organisms and the physical environment
Similarities between ecology and biogeography - ANSWER -ecology often
provides explanations for many biogeographic patterns. Identifies the factors
and processes that create the spatial arrangement of an environment.
-Very much sister disciplines
-Ecology focuses on smaller scales and shorter periods
Questions of biogeography - ANSWER 1. Why do organisms live where they
do?
2. Why is this place more or less diverse than another?
3. How and why have communities or ecosystems in an area changed over
time?
Sub-disciplines of biogeography - ANSWER Ecological
Historical
Cultural
Ecological Biogeography - ANSWER Concerned with the characteristics of
species and populations, interactions with the biotic and abiotic environment,
biogeomorphology, vegetation dynamics and landscape ecology
Life history - ANSWER the cycle of life stages of an organisms and the stage
timing, and events associated with the stages
Demography - ANSWER the study of size, structure and distribution of
populations, and spatial and/or temporal changes in them in response to birth,
death, migration and aging
, Characteristics of species and populations - ANSWER Includes:
Life history
Demography
Behavior
Interactions with biotic and abiotic environment - ANSWER Competition
Predation
Anthropogenic disturbances
Climate
Soil
Natural Disturbances
Biogeomorphology - ANSWER the influence of organisms on characteristics
and changes in landforms, and vice versa
Vegetation dynamics - ANSWER changes in patterns of plant populations and
communities through time due to processes such as climate change and
disturbance
Landscape ecology - ANSWER examines the influence of spatial
heterogeneity and changes in the landscape on ecological processes such as the
distribution and flow of energy, material and individuals in the environment
Historical Biogeography - ANSWER Origins, dispersal, environments, and
speciation in the past.
-Where did an organism come from and how did it get to where it is today?
-Geological and climate influences on the isolation and divergence of
population/species
Taxonomic/evolutionary biogeography - ANSWER reconstructing
evolutionary relationships among different taxa using biochemical,
morphological, or genetic markers often with inferences made about isolating
factors that led to divergence
Paleo-environmental reconstructions - ANSWER Uses techniques that provide
surrogate information from which inferences about characteristics and changes
in past environments are made
