Biodiversity




BIO226 : Community : Community Patterns : Biodiversity

Exercise: Biodiversity

To complete this assignment successfully, you should:

Study the assignment carefully
Enter your response(s) in the space(s) provided
Fill in your Name and Email address
Send the Assignment

DUE: 9-Apr-99. Work sent after this date will receive a grade of zero.

1. The World Wildlife Federation and a number of other groups have constructed a map of species richness.

a) What is species richness?

b) Are the data reflected in this map consistent with the general pattern of increasing species richness from high to low latitudes? Explain.

c) Ricklefs mentioned that there are generally more species in forests than in grasslands, and a surprising number of species in desert habitats. Is this pattern consistent with the WWF maps? Explain.

2. Understanding patterns of biodiversity depends largely on available data on species richness.

a) How many species of organisms have been described so far?

b) How many species do you hypothesize exist on earth? Describe the evidence that supports your hypothesis.

c) In what ways does the estimate of overall species richness depend on our information on insects?

For grading purposes, please provide the following information:

Your Name:

Your Email address:

Once you have filled in all of the areas above, click the Send the assignment button below to send the assignment to the instructor.

E-mail Professor Gaud at gaud@jan.ucc.nau.edu
or call (520) 523-7516