By Bára Winterová Published on September 23, 2020

17. Species Diversity: Mechanisms

What will you learn in this lecture:

To understand the difference between equilibrium and non-equilibrium models of species diversity.
Ability to use the theory of island biogeography to illustrate how area and isolation influence site richness.
Discuss how disturbance, mass effect, and competitive equivalency can affect species diversity.
To describe how the supply ratios of resources can affect species diversity.

Enrolled students of fall 2024should watch this lecture before November 19.

What questions should you be able to answer now?

How does the size of an island and it's distance from mainland influence the number of species on it?
How does mass effect work?
How do different mechanisms influence the species richness at the different spatial scales?

Useful links and materials:
Chapter 18 in: Krebs, Charles J. Ecology: The Experimental Analysis of Distribution and Abundance.
Chapter 21 in: Krebs, Charles J. Ecology: The Experimental Analysis of Distribution and Abundance.

Featured image: For the gamers among you: how is the name of this game (Mass Effect) a correct application of ecological theory? (Microsoft Game Studios‬)