Download Species Diversity and Interaction

Species Diversity and Interaction
Tropical Rainforest Value
Plants are a source of…
…oxygen (density, climate)
…genetic innovation (diversity)
…potential medicinal compounds (plant
diversity; herbivore diversity)
…and a CO2 sink (density, climate)
The highest densities and greatest diversities of
plants are found in tropical rainforests
Species Diversity
: number of species in an area
: relative abundance of
different species in an area
(biodiversity) considers both
richness and evenness
= S ni(ni-1)/N(N-1) [e.g.]
Community A: 50 spp& Community B: 30 spp
The Tropical Rainforest Biome exhibits the
greatest biodiversity on Earth…
…but why?
Evolutionary time theory…
Competition hypothesis…
Heterogeneous environment hypothesis…
Climatic stability theory…
Climatic predictability theory…
Productivity hypothesis…
Predation hypothesis…
Animal pollinators theory…
The Tropical Rainforest Biome exhibits the
greatest biodiversity on Earth…
…why? …and so what?
The greater the biodiversity, the greater the
potential for interactions…
The Tropical Rainforest Biome exhibits the
greatest biodiversity on Earth…
…why? …and so what?
The greater the biodiversity, the greater the
potential for interactions…
: “close” relationships between
members of two different species
Mutualism: win/win
Parasitism: win/lose
Commensalism: win/huh?
Amensalism: huh?/lose
The Tropical Rainforest Biome exhibits the
greatest biodiversity on Earth…
…why? …and so what?
The greater the biodiversity, the greater the
potential for interactions…
Competition
Predation
Herbivory
Mimicry
Batesian Mimicry
Mullerian Mimicry