BIOL 3065 Final: Lectures - Conserv Bio.docx
Document Summary
Generally most papers deal with number of species when addressing biodiversity. Global biodiversity hotspot map made based on diversity of plant species: based on the idea that areas of high plant diversity likely have high animal. Coastal taxa and oceanic taxa tend to have different biodiversity patterns: oceanic tend to have peaks in biodiversity at mid-latitudes (different from diversity land) Have been major crises in biodiversity in history: catastrophic events such as mass extinctions, e. g. Meteor likely (not definitely) caused dinosaur extinction caused huge decrease in productivity: e. g. Volcanic events permian triassic, 250 mya, largest extinction. Very few other species have been able to have such numbers or distribution that humans have: some such as rats, chickens have high distribution, due to humans, killer and sperm whales have large distribution. Have ability to assess their environment and communicate with other members of their species: social animals are successful in distribution.
