Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
There is greater biodiversity in tropical /subtropical regions than in temperate region. Explain.
Advertisements
Solution
- Speciation is generally a function of time, unlike temperate regions subjected to frequent glaciations in the past, tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years and thus, had a long evolutionary time for species diversification.
- Tropical environments, unlike temperate ones, are less seasonal, relatively more constant and predictable. Such constant environments promote niche specialisation and lead to greater species diversity.
- There is more solar energy available in the tropics, which contributes to higher productivity; this in turn might contribute indirectly to greater diversity.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Explain, giving three reasons, why tropics show greatest levels of species diversity.
What is the significance of the slope of regression in a species-area relationship?
Short answer type question
Tropical regions exhibit species richness as compared to polar regions. Justify.
In the equation: log S = log C + Z log A , S= species richness; Z = slope of line (regression coefficient); A = area; C = Y intercept. For smaller area, the value of Z ranges from ____________.
The graph of species richness and area for a number of taxa like angiospermic plants, freshwater fishes, and birds is found to be ______.
Amongst the animal group given below, which one has the highest percentage of endangered species?
Which of the below mentioned regions exhibit lees seasonal variations?
Which of these is true about tropical environments?
Which of these is true about tropical environments?
Which of the following countries has the highest biodiversity?
Amongst the animal groups given below, which one appears to be more vulnerable to extinction?
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?
The relation between species richness and area for a wide variety of taxa turns out to be a rectangular hyperbola. Give a brief explanation.
Given below is an equation describing the Species-Area relationship between species richness and area for a wide variety of taxa as angiosperm plants, birds, bats etc. S = CAz
- Give a graphical representation of the given equation showing Species-Area relationship.
- What does 'S' represent in the given equation?
- What is the value of 'Z' (regression coefficient) for frugivorous birds and mammals in the tropical forests of different continents?
Write the inference drawn by Alexander von Humboldt after his extensive explorations of South American jungle.
Study the graph given below:

As per Alexander von Humboldt, what do the symbols S, A, Z and C in the graph stand for, in respect of a species and area relationship?
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 ______.
