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Question
A species-area curve is drawn by plotting the number of species against the area. How is it that when a very large area is considered the slope is steeper than that for smaller areas?
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Solution
Ecologists have discovered that the value of Z (slope of the line) lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.2, regardless of the taxonomic group or the region (whether it is the plants in Britain, birds in California or molluscs in New York state, the slopes of the regression line are amazingly similar). But, if you analyse the species-area relationships among very large areas like the entire continents, you will find that the slope of the line is much steeper (Z values in the range of 0.6 to 1.2). For example, for frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds and mammals in the tropical forests of different continents, the slope is found to be 1.15.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
The following graph shows the species-area relationship. Answer the following questions as directed.
(a) Name the naturalist who studied the kind of relationship shown in the graph. Write the observations made by him.
(b) Write the situations as discovered by the ecologists when the value of ‘Z’
(Slope of the line) lies between:
- 0.1 and 0.2
- 0.6 and 1.2
What does ‘Z’ stand for?
(c) When would the slope of the line ‘b’ become steeper?
Short answer type question
Tropical regions exhibit species richness as compared to polar regions. Justify.
Extent of global diversity of invertebrates is shown in the pie diagram below. Choose the most appropriate alternative that the four portions (a-d) represent.
Maximum species richness is observed in the ______.
All are true regarding graph showing species richness - area relationship, EXCEPT ______.
The graph of species richness and area for a number of taxa like angiospermic plants, freshwater fishes, and birds is found to be ______.
Oxygen dissociation curve for Myoglobin has the following shape:
Amongst the animal group given below, which one has the highest percentage of endangered species?
Which of these is true about tropical environments?
"Species richness increased with increased explored area but only a limit". This statement was given by.
Which of the following countries has the highest biodiversity?
Is it possible that productivity and diversity of a natural community remain constant over a time period of, say one hundred years?
Is it true that there is more solar energy available in the tropics? Explain briefly.
The species-area relationship is represented on a log scale as ______.
For frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds and mammals in the tropical forests of different continents, the slope of the species-area relationship is found to be approximately ______.
Alexander von Humboldt observed that, within a region species richness ______ with increasing explored area.
Match the scientist in column I with their contribution in column II and choose the correct option.
| Column I | Column II | ||
| i. | Alexander Van Humboldt | a. | Estimated 7 million species round the globe |
| ii. | Robert May | b. | Rivet popper hypothesis |
| iii. | David Tillman | c. | Species Area Relationship |
| iv. | Paul Ehrlich | d. | Productivity stability hypothesis |
