DOCSLIB.ORG

Biogeography in Conservation: Tools to Explore the Past and Future of Species in a Changing World

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Biogeography in Conservation: Tools to Explore the Past and Future of Species in a Changing World Network of Conservation Educators & Practitioners Biogeography in Conservation: Tools to Explore the Past and Future of Species in a Changing World Author(s): Carlos Alberto Arnillas, Sandy M. Smith, Felicity J. N, and Adam Martin Source: Lessons in Conservation, Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp. 55-94 Published by: Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History Stable URL: ncep.amnh.org/linc This article is featured in Lessons in Conservation, the official journal of the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP). NCEP is a collaborative project of the American Museum of Natural History’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) and a number of institutions and individuals around the world. Lessons in Conservation is designed to introduce NCEP teaching and learning resources (or “modules”) to a broad audience. NCEP modules are designed for undergraduate and professional level education. These modules—and many more on a variety of conservation topics—are available for free download at our website, ncep.amnh.org. To learn more about NCEP, visit our website: ncep.amnh.org. All reproduction or distribution must provide full citation of the original work and provide a copyright notice as follows: “Copyright 2019, by the authors of the material and the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation of the American Museum of Natural History. All rights reserved.” Illustrations obtained from the American Museum of Natural History’s library: EXERCISE 55 Biogeography in Conservation: Tools to Explore the Past and Future of Species in a Changing World Carlos Alberto Arnillasi, Sandy M. Smithii, Felicity J. Nii,iii, and Adam Martiniv iUniversity of Toronto Scarborough, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, CA; iiUniversity of Toronto, Faculty of Forestry, Toronto, Ontario, CA; iiiUniversity of Toronto, School of the Environment, Toronto, Ontario, CA; ivUniversity of Toronto Scarborough, Centre for Critical Development Studies, Toronto, Ontario, CA ABSTRACT Humans have now altered essentially every natural ecosystem in the world, and among the numerous consequences of anthropogenic global change, many of the Earth’s species are currently living under drastically different environmental and ecological conditions. On one hand, many species that once thrived in the wild are now threatened by extinction, while at the same time, species that were historically benign are becoming invasive in different parts of the world. To address this major challenge, it is critical that conservation practitioners understand the multiple short- and long-term climatological, geological, and evolutionary mechanisms that have resulted in the current distribution of species; understanding how these same mechanisms interact is also key in predicting species distributions—and possible extinctions—into the future. Using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an open-access worldwide database of species occurrences, this research project exercise is designed to guide teams of students through the process of: a) identifying and researching characteristics relevant to understanding species distribution (e.g., age of the group, habitat requirements, dispersal capabilities); b) representing the present and historic species distribution; c) critically assessing the quality and amount of information available; d) using that information to understand species history and potential future challenges the species may either face or impose on the ecosystems; and e) sharing the results with peers and learning from that experience. LEARNING OBJECTIVES A"er completing this research project exercise, students will be able to: 1. Understand the methods used to study both current and historical species distributions; 2. Use open-access biodiversity databases to record, map, and model the distribution of selected taxa; 3. Use basic database management tools to analyze, interpret, and communicate scientific data on species distributions graphically, orally, and in wri$en reports; 4. Interpret and apply biodiversity data in the context of informing biodiversity conservation planning and policy; and finally, 5. Critically evaluate the potential use and limitations of open-access biodiversity databases, in understanding species historical and current distributions. BACKGROUND Biodiversity Conservation in the Anthropocene At the same time, anthropogenic climate change now threatens to completely redraw the geographic map The fate of animals, plants, and arguably entire of life on this planet. Increasingly, scientific evidence ecosystems or biomes, is in the midst of unprecedented suggests that these massive, global anthropogenic change as a result of human action (Ladle and Whi$aker changes in the composition of ecosystems are unique 2011, Pachauri et al. 2014). Currently, scientists, env- on geological timescales, which is one of the reasons our ironmentalists, policy-makers, and citizens recognize current geological era—the “Anthropocene” or the “Era of that the structure, function, and composition of many the Human”—is becoming more widely acknowledged as habitats worldwide have been completely destroyed or a distinct period of Earth’s history (Crutzen 2002). severely damaged by human activity (Richardson and Whi$aker 2010). Of the numerous impacts humans have While some species are able to thrive in the had on the natural world, among the most prominent Anthropocene, evidence suggests that the vast majo- are both deliberate and accidental changes in the rity of species face a higher degree of susceptibility composition of species across all taxonomic kingdoms. to anthropogenic changes, which in turn results LESSONS IN CONSERVATION VOLUME 9 JANUARY 2019 56 EXERCISE in: a) reduced local or global population numbers; reproductive fitness of different individuals or species b) increased rates of local or global extinction; in response to climatic change. Such factors in turn and ultimately, c) increased likelihood of species exert major controls on species demographics and compositional change in essentially all ecosystems effective population sizes, and the commonness or globally (McKinney and Lockwood 1999). From a stri- rarity of species (Sahney et al. 2010). At the same ctly human perspective, the consequences of such time, anthropogenic influences are creating scenarios changes for ecosystems services that people directly (or “natural experiments”) where biogeographers can rely on, such as clean air or water provisioning, are observe in real-time how species arise, the conditions difficult to predict (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of global change under which different species flourish 2005). or decay, and the key determinants of speciation, dispersal, and extinction (Kueffer 2015). Integrating Conservation Biology and Biogeography While the principles of biogeography tend to relate Conservation biology—a term first coined as recently to “bigger picture” changes in the Earth systems, its as 1978 (Douglas 1978)—is an applied field of scientific conceptual tools and methods are widely applied to study that focuses on understanding spatial and address real world conservation problems. Indeed, the temporal pa$erns in the Earth’s biodiversity, with the principles of biogeography inform the conservation aim of managing species, their habitats, and ecosystems, of species globally and are now well reflected in the in order to prevent their extinction (Soulé 1985, Soulé emergence of the sub-discipline of “conservation bio- 1986). To predict the fate of key species and ecosystems, geography” (Whi$aker et al. 2005). For example, the and ultimately prescribe solutions, conservation biology “Island Theory of Biogeography” is arguably one of draws on tools and methods employed in many fields the most important guiding principles in conservation of study including fundamental taxonomy-based sci- biology to date, as can be seen in the debate as to ences, such as botany and zoology, as well as more whether single-large or several-small conservation quantitative predictive sciences, such as population areas are the most effective in conserving biodiversity and community ecology. Because potential solutions to (commonly referred to as the “SLOSS debate”; e.g., prevent biodiversity loss must be implemented by people Tjørve 2010). Additionally, new tools are improving our at different scales (e.g., local, regional, global), con- capacity to link conservation biology with biogeography, servation biology is structured as an interdisciplinary including: a) global databases on species occurrences and active research field, with critical participation from (e.g., the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF); biologists, social scientists, economists, policy-makers, Box 1), climate data (e.g., WorldClim), and geography and engaged citizens. and geomorphology (e.g., the Shu$le Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)) and b) free computing so"ware that has Complementary to conservation biology, is biogeo- high computational power (e.g., R Statistical So"ware, graphy: the field of study focused on understanding Maxent species modeling so"ware). Coupled with the processes that give rise to the spatial distribution of rapidly expanding Internet access, these tools continue species. While biogeography and conservation biology to increase our capacity to analyze and interpret current undoubtedly share certain elements, biogeography biogeographic trends, and use this information to focuses more specifically
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Biogeography, Community Structure and Biological Habitat Types of Subtidal Reefs on the South Island West Coast, New Zealand
    Biogeography, community structure and biological habitat types of subtidal reefs on the South Island West Coast, New Zealand SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION 281 Biogeography, community structure and biological habitat types of subtidal reefs on the South Island West Coast, New Zealand Nick T. Shears SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION 281 Published by Science & Technical Publishing Department of Conservation PO Box 10420, The Terrace Wellington 6143, New Zealand Cover: Shallow mixed turfing algal assemblage near Moeraki River, South Westland (2 m depth). Dominant species include Plocamium spp. (yellow-red), Echinothamnium sp. (dark brown), Lophurella hookeriana (green), and Glossophora kunthii (top right). Photo: N.T. Shears Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. Individual copies are printed, and are also available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical. © Copyright December 2007, New Zealand Department of Conservation ISSN 1173–2946 (hardcopy) ISSN 1177–9241 (web PDF) ISBN 978–0–478–14354–6 (hardcopy) ISBN 978–0–478–14355–3 (web PDF) This report was prepared for publication by Science & Technical Publishing; editing and layout by Lynette Clelland. Publication was approved by the Chief Scientist (Research, Development & Improvement Division), Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. In the interest of forest conservation, we support paperless electronic publishing. When printing, recycled paper is used wherever possible. CONTENTS Abstract 5 1. Introduction 6 2.
    [Show full text]
  • The Political Biogeography of Migratory Marine Predators
    1 The political biogeography of migratory marine predators 2 Authors: Autumn-Lynn Harrison1, 2*, Daniel P. Costa1, Arliss J. Winship3,4, Scott R. Benson5,6, 3 Steven J. Bograd7, Michelle Antolos1, Aaron B. Carlisle8,9, Heidi Dewar10, Peter H. Dutton11, Sal 4 J. Jorgensen12, Suzanne Kohin10, Bruce R. Mate13, Patrick W. Robinson1, Kurt M. Schaefer14, 5 Scott A. Shaffer15, George L. Shillinger16,17,8, Samantha E. Simmons18, Kevin C. Weng19, 6 Kristina M. Gjerde20, Barbara A. Block8 7 1University of California, Santa Cruz, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Long 8 Marine Laboratory, Santa Cruz, California 95060, USA. 9 2 Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 10 Washington, D.C. 20008, USA. 11 3NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Marine Spatial Ecology Division/Biogeography Branch, 1305 East 12 West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, USA. 13 4CSS Inc., 10301 Democracy Lane, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. 14 5Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine 15 Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Moss Landing, 16 California 95039, USA. 17 6Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA 95039 USA 18 7Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine 19 Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 99 Pacific Street, 20 Monterey, California 93940, USA. 21 8Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, 120 Oceanview 22 Boulevard, Pacific Grove, California 93950 USA. 23 9University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and Policy, 700 Pilottown Rd, Lewes, 24 Delaware, 19958 USA. 25 10Fisheries Resources Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine 26 Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA 92037, 27 USA.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, and Effective Population Size in Two Yellow Bat Species in South Texas
    Genetic diversity, population structure, and effective population size in two yellow bat species in south Texas Austin S. Chipps1, Amanda M. Hale1, Sara P. Weaver2,3 and Dean A. Williams1 1 Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, United States of America 2 Biology Department, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States of America 3 Bowman Consulting Group, San Marcos, TX, United States of America ABSTRACT There are increasing concerns regarding bat mortality at wind energy facilities, especially as installed capacity continues to grow. In North America, wind energy development has recently expanded into the Lower Rio Grande Valley in south Texas where bat species had not previously been exposed to wind turbines. Our study sought to characterize genetic diversity, population structure, and effective population size in Dasypterus ega and D. intermedius, two tree-roosting yellow bats native to this region and for which little is known about their population biology and seasonal movements. There was no evidence of population substructure in either species. Genetic diversity at mitochondrial and microsatellite loci was lower in these yellow bat taxa than in previously studied migratory tree bat species in North America, which may be due to the non-migratory nature of these species at our study site, the fact that our study site is located at a geographic range end for both taxa, and possibly weak ascertainment bias at microsatellite loci. Historical effective population size (NEF) was large for both species, while current estimates of Ne had upper 95% confidence limits that encompassed infinity. We found evidence of strong mitochondrial differentiation between the two putative subspecies of D.
    [Show full text]
  • Multilocus Estimation of Divergence Times and Ancestral Effective Population Sizes of Oryza Species and Implications for the Rapid Diversification of the Genus
    Research Multilocus estimation of divergence times and ancestral effective population sizes of Oryza species and implications for the rapid diversification of the genus Xin-Hui Zou1, Ziheng Yang2,3, Jeff J. Doyle4 and Song Ge1 1State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; 2Center for Computational and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; 3Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK; 4Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, 412 Mann Library Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Summary Author for correspondence: Despite substantial investigations into Oryza phylogeny and evolution, reliable estimates of Song Ge the divergence times and ancestral effective population sizes of major lineages in Oryza are Tel: +86 10 62836097 challenging. Email: [email protected] We sampled sequences of 106 single-copy nuclear genes from all six diploid genomes of Received: 2 January 2013 Oryza to investigate the divergence times through extensive relaxed molecular clock analyses Accepted: 8 February 2013 and estimated the ancestral effective population sizes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. New Phytologist (2013) 198: 1155–1164 We estimated that Oryza originated in the middle Miocene (c.13–15 million years ago; doi: 10.1111/nph.12230 Ma) and obtained an explicit time frame for two rapid diversifications in this genus. The first diversification involving the extant F-/G-genomes and possibly the extinct H-/J-/K-genomes Key words: divergence time, Oryza, popula- occurred in the middle Miocene immediately after (within < 1 Myr) the origin of Oryza.
    [Show full text]
  • Can More K-Selected Species Be Better Invaders?
    Diversity and Distributions, (Diversity Distrib.) (2007) 13, 535–543 Blackwell Publishing Ltd BIODIVERSITY Can more K-selected species be better RESEARCH invaders? A case study of fruit flies in La Réunion Pierre-François Duyck1*, Patrice David2 and Serge Quilici1 1UMR 53 Ӷ Peuplements Végétaux et ABSTRACT Bio-agresseurs en Milieu Tropical ӷ CIRAD Invasive species are often said to be r-selected. However, invaders must sometimes Pôle de Protection des Plantes (3P), 7 chemin de l’IRAT, 97410 St Pierre, La Réunion, France, compete with related resident species. In this case invaders should present combina- 2UMR 5175, CNRS Centre d’Ecologie tions of life-history traits that give them higher competitive ability than residents, Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), 1919 route de even at the expense of lower colonization ability. We test this prediction by compar- Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France ing life-history traits among four fruit fly species, one endemic and three successive invaders, in La Réunion Island. Recent invaders tend to produce fewer, but larger, juveniles, delay the onset but increase the duration of reproduction, survive longer, and senesce more slowly than earlier ones. These traits are associated with higher ranks in a competitive hierarchy established in a previous study. However, the endemic species, now nearly extinct in the island, is inferior to the other three with respect to both competition and colonization traits, violating the trade-off assumption. Our results overall suggest that the key traits for invasion in this system were those that *Correspondence: Pierre-François Duyck, favoured competition rather than colonization. CIRAD 3P, 7, chemin de l’IRAT, 97410, Keywords St Pierre, La Réunion Island, France.
    [Show full text]
  • Biogeography: an Ecosystems Approach (Geography 338)
    WELCOME TO GEOGRAPHY/BOTANY 338: ENVIRONMENTAL BIOGEOGRAPHY Fall 2018 Schedule: Monday & Wednesday 2:30-3:45 pm, Humanities 1641 Credits: 3 Instructor: Professor Ken Keefover-Ring Email: [email protected] Office: Science Hall 115C Office Hours: Tuesday 3:00-4:00 pm & Wednesday 12:00-1:00 pm or by appointment Note: This course fulfills the Biological Science breadth requirement. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course takes an ecosystems approach to understand how physical -- climate, geologic history, soils -- and biological -- physiology, evolution, extinction, dispersal, competition, predation -- factors interact to affect the past, present and future distribution of terrestrial biomes and all levels of biodiversity: ecosystems, species and genes. A particular focus will be placed on the role of disturbance and to recent human-driven climatic and land-cover changes and biological invasions on differences in historical and current distributions of global biodiversity. COURSE GOALS: • To learn patterns and mechanisms of local to global gene, species, ecosystem and biome distributions • To learn how past, current and future environmental change affect biogeography • To learn how humans affect geographic patterns of biodiversity • To learn how to apply concepts from biogeography to current environmental problems • To learn how to read and interpret the primary literature, that is, scientific articles in peer- reviewed journals. COURSE POLICY: I expect you to attend all lectures and come prepared to participate in discussion. I will take attendance. Please let me know if you need to miss three or more lectures. Please respect your fellow students, professor, and guest speakers and turn off the ringers on your cell phones and refrain from texting during class time.
    [Show full text]
  • Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography: a Review
    Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography: A Review Angela D. Yu Simon A. Lei Abstract—The topography, climatic pattern, location, and origin of relationship, dispersal mechanisms and their response to islands generate unique patterns of species distribution. The equi- isolation, and species turnover. Additionally, conservation librium theory of island biogeography creates a general framework of oceanic and continental (habitat) islands is examined in in which the study of taxon distribution and broad island trends relation to minimum viable populations and areas, may be conducted. Critical components of the equilibrium theory metapopulation dynamics, and continental reserve design. include the species-area relationship, island-mainland relation- Finally, adverse anthropogenic impacts on island ecosys- ship, dispersal mechanisms, and species turnover. Because of the tems are investigated, including overexploitation of re- theoretical similarities between islands and fragmented mainland sources, habitat destruction, and introduction of exotic spe- landscapes, reserve conservation efforts have attempted to apply cies and diseases (biological invasions). Throughout this the theory of island biogeography to improve continental reserve article, theories of many researchers are re-introduced and designs, and to provide insight into metapopulation dynamics and utilized in an analytical manner. The objective of this article the SLOSS debate. However, due to extensive negative anthropo- is to review previously published data, and to reveal if any genic activities, overexploitation of resources, habitat destruction, classical and emergent theories may be brought into the as well as introduction of exotic species and associated foreign study of island biogeography and its relevance to mainland diseases (biological invasions), island conservation has recently ecosystem patterns. become a pressing issue itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Biogeographically Distinct Controls on C3 and C4 Grass Distributions: Merging
    Biogeographically distinct controls on C₃ and C₄ grass distributions: merging community and physiological ecology Griffith, D. M., Anderson, T. M., Osborne, C. P., Strömberg, C. A. E., Forrestel, E. J., & Still, C. J. (2015). Biogeographically distinct controls on C₃ and C₄ grass distributions: merging community and physiological ecology. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 24(3), 304–313. doi:10.1111/geb.12265 10.1111/geb.12265 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Accepted Manuscript http://cdss.library.oregonstate.edu/sa-termsofuse 1 1 Article Title: Biogeographically distinct controls on C3 and C4 grass distributions: merging 2 community and physiological ecology 3 Authors: 4 Daniel M. Griffith; Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 5 27109, USA; [email protected] 6 T. Michael Anderson; Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 7 27109, USA; [email protected] 8 Colin P. Osborne; Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western 9 Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; [email protected] 10 Caroline A.E. Strömberg; Department of Biology & Burke Museum of Natural History and 11 Culture, University of Washington, WA, 98195, USA; [email protected] 12 Elisabeth J. Forrestel; Department of Ecology and Evolution, Yale University, New Haven, 13 CT, 06520, USA; [email protected] 14 Christopher J. Still; Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 15 97331, USA; [email protected] 16 Short running title (45): Climate disequilibrium in C4 grass distributions 17 Keywords: Biogeography, C3, C4, crossover temperature, tree cover, invasive, fire 18 Type: Research Paper 19 Number of words in the abstract including key words (10): 300 of 300 20 Main text, including Biosketch (32): 5632 of 5000 21 Number of references: 50 of 50 22 Number of figures: 4 of 6 23 Tables: 1 2 24 Corresponding author: 25 Daniel M.
    [Show full text]
  • COULD R SELECTION ACCOUNT for the AFRICAN PERSONALITY and LIFE CYCLE?
    Person. individ.Diff. Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 665-675, 1993 0191-8869/93 S6.OOf0.00 Printedin Great Britain.All rightsreserved Copyright0 1993Pergamon Press Ltd COULD r SELECTION ACCOUNT FOR THE AFRICAN PERSONALITY AND LIFE CYCLE? EDWARD M. MILLER Department of Economics and Finance, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, U.S.A. (Received I7 November 1992; received for publication 27 April 1993) Summary-Rushton has shown that Negroids exhibit many characteristics that biologists argue result from r selection. However, the area of their origin, the African Savanna, while a highly variable environment, would not select for r characteristics. Savanna humans have not adopted the dispersal and colonization strategy to which r characteristics are suited. While r characteristics may be selected for when adult mortality is highly variable, biologists argue that where juvenile mortality is variable, K character- istics are selected for. Human variable birth rates are mathematically similar to variable juvenile birth rates. Food shortage caused by African drought induce competition, just as food shortages caused by high population. Both should select for K characteristics, which by definition contribute to success at competition. Occasional long term droughts are likely to select for long lives, late menopause, high paternal investment, high anxiety, and intelligence. These appear to be the opposite to Rushton’s r characteristics, and opposite to the traits he attributes to Negroids. Rushton (1985, 1987, 1988) has argued that Negroids (i.e. Negroes) were r selected. This idea has produced considerable scientific (Flynn, 1989; Leslie, 1990; Lynn, 1989; Roberts & Gabor, 1990; Silverman, 1990) and popular controversy (Gross, 1990; Pearson, 1991, Chapter 5), which Rushton (1989a, 1990, 1991) has responded to.
    [Show full text]
  • Biological Processes in Biogeography Introduction
    --PART III-- Biological processes in biogeography Introduction The uneveness of species distributions over the globe forms a basic characteristic of living organisms. Biogeographers have frequently tried to explain these distributions by reference to preconceived biogeo­ graphic processes. This has often resulted in authoritarian narratives that really neither test the process invoked, nor propose possible alterna­ tives. A more rigorous explanatory app.roach is to search for consistent patterns amongst the various species distributions and then use these patterns to discover the processes which underlie them. Indeed, the discovery of such processes is a prime function of biogeographic analysis. Rosen (Chapter 2) conjectures as to whether there are any uniquely biogeographical processes, but whether there are or not, geographical (tectonic, eustatic, climatic, oceanographic), evolutionary (adaptation, speciation, extinction) and ecological (dispersal, biotic interactions) processes are all implicated in pattern forming. Intuitively, the assump­ tion is that large scale abiotic processes exert their effect in conjunction with evolutionary processes, through vicariance or through merging of biotas, whilst ecological processes cause changes in pattern through biotic interactions and colonizing jumps and are in tum affected by small scale abiotic factors. ADAPTATION AND ECOLOGY At a very basic level, to understand why a particular organism or group of organisms is found in a specific place, we must know something about their general biology i.e. the nature of the adaptations which allow the species to live where it does. Different genetic strains or phenotypes of a species, often called ecotypes, can themselves be differentially adapted to their local environmental conditions and hence be restricted to certain habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Implications Is Biogeography: For
    FEATURE BIODIVERSITY IS BIOGEOGRAPHY: IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION By G. Carleton Ray THREE THEMES DOMINATEthis review. The first is similarities, as is apparent within the coastal zone, that biodiversity is biogeography. Or, as Nelson the biodiversity of which depends on land-sea in- and Ladiges (1990) put it: "Indeed, what beyond teractions. biogeography is "biodiversity' about?" Second, "Characteristic Biodiversity"--a Static View watershed and seashed patterns and their scale-re- A complete species inventory for any biogeo- lated dynamics are major modifiers of biogeo- graphic province on Earth is virtually impossible. graphic pattern. And, third, concepts of biodiver- In fact, species lists, absent a biogeographic frame sity and biogeography are essential guides for of reference, can be ecologically meaningless, be- conservation and management of coastal-marine cause such lists say little about the dynamics of systems, especially for MACPAs (MArine and environmental change. To address such dynamics, Coastal Protected Areas). biodiversity is best expressed at a hierarchy of Conservation and conservation bioecology have scales, which this discussion follows. entered into an era of self-awareness of their suc- cesses. Proponents of "biodiversity" have achieved Global Patterns worldwide recognition. Nevertheless: "Like so Hayden el al. (1984) attempted a summary of the many buzz words, biodiversity has many shades of state-of-the-art of global, coastal-marine biogeogra- • . the coastal zone, meaning and is often used to express vague and phy at the behest of UNESCO's Man and the Bios- which is the most bio- ill-thought-out concepts" (Angel, 1991), as phere Programme (MAB) and the International reflected by various biodiversity "strategies" Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
    [Show full text]
  • The C4 Plant Lineages of Planet Earth
    Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 62, No. 9, pp. 3155–3169, 2011 doi:10.1093/jxb/err048 Advance Access publication 16 March, 2011 REVIEW PAPER The C4 plant lineages of planet Earth Rowan F. Sage1,*, Pascal-Antoine Christin2 and Erika J. Edwards2 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3B2 Canada 2 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, 80 Waterman St., Providence, RI 02912, USA * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected] Received 30 November 2010; Revised 1 February 2011; Accepted 2 February 2011 Abstract Using isotopic screens, phylogenetic assessments, and 45 years of physiological data, it is now possible to identify most of the evolutionary lineages expressing the C4 photosynthetic pathway. Here, 62 recognizable lineages of C4 photosynthesis are listed. Thirty-six lineages (60%) occur in the eudicots. Monocots account for 26 lineages, with a Downloaded from minimum of 18 lineages being present in the grass family and six in the sedge family. Species exhibiting the C3–C4 intermediate type of photosynthesis correspond to 21 lineages. Of these, 9 are not immediately associated with any C4 lineage, indicating that they did not share common C3–C4 ancestors with C4 species and are instead an independent line. The geographic centre of origin for 47 of the lineages could be estimated. These centres tend to jxb.oxfordjournals.org cluster in areas corresponding to what are now arid to semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, south- central South America, central Asia, northeastern and southern Africa, and inland Australia.
    [Show full text]