Even though Texas is larger and contains more habitat diversity (measured by a greater number of ecosystems), Malsysia contains many more species than Texas. In fact, Malaysia is considered to be a "biodiveristy hotspot".
Why are there so many more species in Malaysia than in Texas? The answer probably has to do with a general phenomenon that scientists have been trying to understand for over two hundred years- the tropical temperate gradient in species richness. There have been over thirty hypotheses developed to explain this pattern and research and debate on the topic is continuing today.
Readings
More General
Latitudinal gradients in diversity- http://www.ecology.info/article.aspx?cid=10&id=69
Latitudinal gradients in species diversity- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitudinal_gradients_in_species_diversity
Thorough techical review
Latitudinal gradients of biodiversity: patterns, process, scale, and synthesis. Annula Review of Ecology and Systematics by Mike Willig, Dawn Kaufman, and Richard Stevens
http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/people/willig/Willig_pdf/120.%20Willig_etal_2003.pdf
Powerpoint Presentation
http://www.slideshare.net/secret/9hVZHFohOJijx5
Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson a fully engaged student should be able to
1) discuss alternative approaches to understanding the causes of the tropical-temperate gradient in species richness including null models, biogeographical approaches, evolutionary approaches, and ecological approaches
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Week 9: Biodiversity continued
Because biodiversity includes components of richness and evenness, any attempts that we make to quantify biodiversity will need to incorporate both of these components of biodiversity.
Mathematicians and ecologists have developed a number of mathematical indices to measure biodiversity and evenness. Two of the common indices are the Shannon Index and the Simpson Index. Because these two indices respond differently to changes in richess and evenness, it is possible to get different answers when using the two indices (as we observed in the example of data from Malaysian bats).
Second Writing Assignment
Due Wednesday October 6th.
1 page, double spaced.
Topic: Why should Malaysians be concerned about biodiversity?
Mathematicians and ecologists have developed a number of mathematical indices to measure biodiversity and evenness. Two of the common indices are the Shannon Index and the Simpson Index. Because these two indices respond differently to changes in richess and evenness, it is possible to get different answers when using the two indices (as we observed in the example of data from Malaysian bats).
Second Writing Assignment
Due Wednesday October 6th.
1 page, double spaced.
Topic: Why should Malaysians be concerned about biodiversity?
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