Bio 356 announcements

Lab meets Wednesday at the Union

Bay Natural Area

Field class 7 due Wednesday

Field class 8 due MONDAY at 5 pm
in Kincaid 516

Office hours: Monday 9-10 and 1-3
in Kincaid 516
What are the biodiversity consequences of habitat loss?
Thomson et al. 2003
Area A
If half of a habitat is lost or transformed, what fraction of
the species are expected to go extinct?
Half
More than half
Less than half
Biology 356: Lecture #11













Spatial Ecology
Dec4
Introduction to spatial ecology

Landscape fragmentation consequences

Island biogeography
Levels of ecological study

Individuals
Populations

Communities

Ecosystems
Landscapes




Physiological Ecology
Population Ecology
Species Interactions
Biodiversity
Community Ecology
Ecosystem Ecology
Spatial Ecology


A landscape is a heterogeneous area consisting
of distinctive patches.



A landscape is a heterogeneous area consisting
of distinctive patches.
A patch is a contiguous area of a defined habitat.


A landscape is a heterogeneous area consisting
of distinctive patches.
A patch is a contiguous area of a defined habitat.
The matrix is the area between patches.

A landscape is a heterogeneous area consisting
of distinctive patches.
A patch is a contiguous area of a defined habitat.
The matrix is the area between patches.
A corridor is a strip of habitat connecting two
patches.
A landscape is a heterogeneous area consisting
of distinctive patches.
A patch is a contiguous area of a defined habitat.
The matrix is the area between patches.
A corridor is a strip of habitat connecting two
patches.
Edge: border between two contrasting habitats
Patch shape: Edge (perimeter) depends on ruler
length and fractal geometry
Relatively long ruler (scale) generates relatively short
edge
Patch shape: Edge (perimeter) depends on ruler
length and fractal geometry
Relatively short ruler (scale) generates relatively long
edge

Patch shape: S =
Patch shape: Shape depends on perimeter relative to
area
Patch shape

S =




S = Patch shape
P = Patch perimeter
A = Patch area
Which habitat has the
greater value of S?

a)



b)
Patch shape

S =




S = Patch shape
P = Patch perimeter
A = Patch area
Which habitat has the
greater value of S?

a)



b)
Patch shape is the ratio of patch perimeter to the
perimeter of a circle with an area equal to patch area.
Lab preview
Record species composition of invertebrates under
each plywood island at UBNA
Lab preview
Define: patch, matrix, area, perimeter (edge), shape,
corridors
Lab preview
How does plywood island area affect species
richness?
Does the density of a given species change with area?
A landscape is a heterogeneous area composed
of ecosystems that form distinctive patches.

Landscape structure includes the area, shape,
composition, and position of patches in a
landscape.

Landscape structure influences the flow of
energy, materials, and species across a landscape.
Introduction to spatial ecology: conclusions
Dec4
Introduction to spatial ecology

Landscape fragmentation consequences

Island biogeography
How do abundance and diversity change with area?
Thomson et al. 2003
Area A
Species abundance increases with area
# butterflies
(individuals)
But species density declines with area
Patch area (m
2
)
butterfly density
(individuals / m
2
)
# butterflies
(individuals)
Low density in
a small area =
too few
individuals to
persist
Species richness increases with area


# of bird
species


Species-area
relationships are log-
log plots

logS = logc + b logA
b~ 0.25-0.4
Species richness increases with area


# of bird
species


On linear axes, fewer
species are added
with each increment of
area
S = c A
b
b~ 0.25-0.4
Species richness increases with area


# of bird
species


If half of a habitat is
lost or transformed,
what fraction of the
species are expected
to go extinct?
Half
More than half
Less than half
Species richness increases with patch area,
while species density declines.

Human activity has fragmented habitats
worldwide. For b=0.25, loss of 50% of area predicts
16% extinction. For b=0.4, loss of 50% of area
predicts 24% extinction.
Landscape fragmentation: conclusions
Dec4
Introduction to spatial ecology

Landscape fragmentation consequences

Island biogeography
Why does species richness increase with area?
Potential mechanisms:
Species coexist better on large islands, where
densities are lower.

Island size correlates with heterogeneity; larger
islands support species with different habitat
requirements.

Island biogeography: Island size and proximity
influence colonization and extinction rates
Immigration rate
(species / time)
Equilibrium theory of island biogeography
# species present
Extinction rate
(species / time)
X-axis is how many
species are present on
the island
Y-axis is how fast new
species arrive or
disappear
Immigration rate
(species / time)
Equilibrium theory of island biogeography
# species present
When few species are present, each immigrant is
likely to represent a new species; when many
species are present, immigrants are less likely to
represent new species.
Equilibrium theory of island biogeography
# species present
When many species are present:
there is a larger pool of potential extinctions
the population size of each species must
decrease, increasing the likelihood of extinction
competitive interactions are more likely
Extinction rate
(species / time)
Equilibrium theory of island biogeography
# species present
Extinction rate
(species / time)
Immigration rate
(species / time)
Change in species richness =
rate of immigration - rate of extinction
Dynamic equilibrium of species richness when
immigration rate = extinction rate
Equilibrium theory of island biogeography
near
far
# species present
Immigration rate
(species / time)
Proximity to other islands increases immigration rate.
Extinction rate
(species / time)
small
large
Equilibrium theory of island biogeography
# species present
Extinction rate decreases with island size.
small
large
small, far
large, far
small, near
large, near
Equilibrium theory of island biogeography
near
far
# species present
Immigration rate
(species / time)
Extinction rate
(species / time)
Species turnover
Dynamic equilibrium species richness does
not always have the same species
composition

Turnover = Dis-similarity in species
composition
Experimental work on island biogeography
Simberloff and Wilson
1969
Simberloff and Wilson
1969
Experiment 1:
Does proximity to other
islands affect immigration
rate?

6 experimental islands
(defaunated)
2 control islands
(undisturbed)
Insect surveys
Experimental work on island biogeography
Simberloff and Wilson
1969
Experimental islands fumigated
Experimental work on island biogeography
Simberloff and Wilson
1969
Time (days)
# species
present
Near
Far
Proximity to other islands
increased immigration rate.
Experimental work on island biogeography
Composition: species arrive and go extinct
Species richness: 20 2 14 17
Island biogeography theory predicts that species richness
is a dynamic balance of immigration and extinction rates.
Immigration rate depends upon proximity to other
islands, and extinction rate depends upon island size.

Species composition on islands is expected to change
over time, even if species richness is at a dynamic
equilibrium. Species turnover is also likely in space islands
with similar species richness can have different composition.
Island biogeography: conclusions