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Question
Write the inference drawn by Alexander von Humboldt after his extensive explorations of South American jungle.
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Solution
Alexander von Humboldt observed that within a region species richness increased with increasing explored area, but only up to a limit. In fact, the relation between species richness and area for a wide variety of taxa (angiosperm plants, birds, bats, freshwater fishes) turns out to be a rectangular hyperbola.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Give three hypotheses for explaining why tropics show greatest levels of species richness.
Latitudinal and altitudinal gradient is shown by which of the following habitat(s)?
On a log scale the relationship of species richness and area becomes linear (straight line) and is given by the equation.
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 ____________.
With reference to graph select the correct alternative
Which one of the following is not a major characteristic feature of biodiversity hot spots?
Is it possible that productivity and diversity of a natural community remain constant over a time period of, say one hundred years?
Tropical regions show greatest level of species richness because -
- Tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years, hence more time was available for species diversification.
- Tropical environments are more seasonal.
- More solar energy is available in tropics.
- Constant environments promote niche specialization.
- Tropical environments are constant and predictable.
Choose the correct answer form the options given below:
Alexander von Humboldt developed observations leading to the discovery of which relationship in ecology?
What does the variable S represent in the species-area formula log S = log C + Z log A?
