Evolution of Biodiversity Chapter 5 Evolution of Biodiversity

Geologic Time Scale Earth’s chemical and biological history can be described along a timeline- the geologic time scale. To understand this timeline, you need to think in time units much larger than the time units used to define our lives. Earth’s evolution led to our present day life supporting system.

Figure 5.23 Mass Extinctions The sixth mass extinction - Five “recent” global mass extinctions - Over Earth’s history, individual species have evolved and gone extinct at random intervals. But the fossil record shows periods of global mass extinction, in which large numbers of species went extinct over relatively short periods of time. The sixth mass extinction - Earth is experiencing a global mass extinction of a magnitude within range of previous mass extinctions. Estimates of extinction rates vary widely, ranging from 2% to as many as 25% of species going extinct by 2020.

Speciation and extinction determine biodiversity Earth is home to a tremendous diversity of species Species diversity- the variety of species in a given ecosystem. Ecosystem diversity- the variety of ecosystems within a given region. Genetic diversity- the variety of genes within a given species.

Species richness- the number of species in a given area. Species evenness- the measure of whether a particular ecosystem is numerically dominated by one species or are all represented by similar numbers of individuals.

Evolution shapes ecological niches and determines species distributions Range of tolerance- all species have an optimal environment in which it performs well. The limit to the abiotic conditions they can tolerate is known as the range of tolerance. Fundamental niche- the ideal conditions for a species.

Niches Realized niche- the range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species actually lives. This determines the species distribution, or areas of the world where it lives. Niche generalist- species that live under a wide range of conditions (broad realized niche). Niche specialist- species that live only in specific habitats (narrow realized niche).

Niche generalists - very broad realized niche, i. e Niche generalists - very broad realized niche, i.e. can survive in wide range of conditions Niche specialists - can live only under a very narrow range of conditions raccoon E. Mediohispanicum (mustard family) – flower attracts more than 100 species of insects koala bear giant panda coyote B. Rockii (pua’ana) – moth with specialized mouth parts (extinct), now pollinated by hand www.centerforplantconservation.org orchid mantis biodilloversity.wordpress.com

Present day Latitudinal Biodiversity Gradient of terrestrial species richness Richness Centers (top 5% richest for each taxon) Amazon, Southeast Brazil, Central Africa Total ~7% global land, ∼50% of all species Amphibians most geographically concentrated, ~2% global land area with entire known ranges of 50% of world’s amphibians Same areas also contain a portion of the ranges for most remaining amphibians i.e., total 96.6% of all amphibian species. Present day distribution of species - realized niches, some more generalist, some more specialist www.pnas.org (Jenkins et al. 2012. Global patterns of terrestrial vertebrate diversity and conservation)

Changes in environmental conditions have the potential to affect species’ distributions

Predicting future species distributions. Figure 5.21 Predicting future species distributions.  Based on knowledge of niche requirements of different tree species, it can be predicted how distributions might respond to future changes in environmental conditions. Response of species distribution to environmental change based on more than knowledge of present niche requirements There may be no favorable environment that is geographically close enough Favorable environment may already be occupied by other very successful species Change may occur so rapidly that a species does not have time to migrate or adapt

Geologic Time Scale Earth’s chemical and biological history can be described along a timeline- the geologic time scale. To understand this timeline, you need to think in time units much larger than the time units used to define our lives. Earth’s evolution led to our present day life supporting system.

Figure 5.23 Mass Extinctions The sixth mass extinction - Five “recent” global mass extinctions - Over Earth’s history, individual species have evolved and gone extinct at random intervals. But the fossil record shows periods of global mass extinction, in which large numbers of species went extinct over relatively short periods of time. The sixth mass extinction - Earth is experiencing a global mass extinction of a magnitude within range of previous mass extinctions. Estimates of extinction rates vary widely, ranging from 2% to as many as 25% of species going extinct by 2020.