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Biogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of living things and the _____ that affect their distribution. a. Abiotic factors b. Biotic factors c. Biomes d. Conspecifics

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. Abiotic factors

Step by step solution

01

Understand the term 'Biogeography'

Biogeography is the study of the distribution of living organisms over geographic areas through geological time.
02

Review the possible answers

The possible answers are: a) Abiotic factors, b) Biotic factors, c) Biomes, d) Conspecifics.
03

Analyze the term 'Abiotic factors'

Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems. These include things like climate, soil, and water.
04

Analyze the term 'Biotic factors'

Biotic factors are living things that affect the distribution of organisms. These include interactions among organisms, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis.
05

Analyze the term 'Biomes'

Biomes are large regions characterized by specific types of climate and ecological communities. Examples include deserts, forests, and tundras.
06

Analyze the term 'Conspecifics'

Conspecifics are individuals of the same species.
07

Choose the correct answer

Biogeography is concerned with both the distribution of living things and the abiotic factors that affect their distribution. Therefore, the correct answer is 'a. Abiotic factors'.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Abiotic factors
Abiotic factors refer to the non-living components of the environment that can influence living organisms and the ecosystems in which they reside. These include:
  • Climate: Weather conditions such as temperature, wind, and precipitation.
  • Soil: The type, quality, and texture of soil which affects plant growth and thus the organisms that rely on plants.
  • Water: Availability and quality of water resources, critical for all life forms.
  • Sunlight: Essential for photosynthesis in plants.
Abiotic factors are crucial as they determine the physical environment in which organisms live and affect their survival and reproduction.
Biotic factors
Biotic factors encompass all living components that influence the survival and growth of organisms in an ecosystem. These include interactions between organisms, such as:
  • Predation: One organism hunting another for food.
  • Competition: When species vie for the same resources, like food or space.
  • Symbiosis: Close, long-term interactions between different species, which can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic.
Understanding biotic factors is essential because these interactions affect population dynamics and community structure within ecosystems. They also play a role in species adaptation and evolution over time.
Biomes
Biomes are large geographical areas defined by their climate, soil, flora, and fauna. They represent broad ecological zones and can include various ecosystems. Major biomes include:
  • Deserts: Characterized by low precipitation and extreme temperatures.
  • Forests: Divided into tropical, temperate, and boreal types based on climate and vegetation.
  • Tundras: Cold, treeless regions often found in the Arctic.
  • Grasslands: Dominated by grasses and have variable climates.
Biomes help scientists understand how life is distributed across the globe and how different environments support different types of organisms.
Geographic distribution
Geographic distribution refers to how and where species are spread across the globe. It is shaped by both abiotic and biotic factors and can be influenced by:
  • Habitat suitability: Whether the environment can support a species’ survival and reproduction.
  • Historical factors: Past events like glaciations, continental drift, and geological changes.
  • Dispersal mechanisms: How organisms move from one location to another, which can include wind, water, animals, and human activity.
Studying geographic distribution helps ecologists and biogeographers understand patterns of diversity and the processes that lead to the distribution of life on Earth.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The population of a certain species of deer has been reduced drastically because of indiscriminate hunting. How will you determine its impact on the local ecosystem? a. To determine the effect of indiscriminate hunting on local ecosystem, environmental conditions should be determined. If a drastic change in environmental conditions is observed then, indiscriminate hunting of deer should be discouraged. b. The number of predators, their effect on plants they feed on, availability of nutrients in soil, and number of pests should be determined. If there is a drastic change in numbers, then indiscriminate hunting of deer should be discouraged. c. Determining the number of predators alone is sufficient to determine the impact of indiscriminate hunting on local ecosystem. If there is a drastic change in numbers, then indiscriminate hunting of deer should be discouraged. d. Determination of the availability of nutrients in soil helps in determining the impact of indiscriminate hunting on local ecosystem. If there is a drastic change in the availability, then indiscriminate hunting of deer should be discouraged.

Each year, Lake Michigan beach visitors are warned of possible E.coli, which can cause illness. In order to understand how environmental conditions, both biotic and abiotic, affect E. coli risk, which type of individual should an infectious disease specialist collaborate with? a. an ecosystem ecologist b. a podiatrist c. a community ecologist d. a population ecologist

All of the following are natural factors have led to slow increases in global temperatures except____. a. volcanic eruptions b. change in solar intensity c. earthquakes d. changes in the earth’s orbit

Is it possible to reverse global warming? What measures may help in reducing global climate change? a. It is possible to reverse global warming by reducing the usage of fossil fuels, using alternative fuels, using alternatives to CFC’s and using natural sources of energy. b. It is not possible to reverse global warming, as major climate changes have already been occurred and settled in the environment. Reducing fossil fuel usage, using natural sources of energy and alternative fuels may slow down global climate change. c. It is not possible to reverse global warming, as we are already witnessing changes in the environment, plants and animal behavior. Reducing fossil fuel usage and using natural sources of energy may slow down global climate change. d. It is possible to reverse global warming by working on new technologies that will help in preventing temperature changes worldwide. Using wind power and high efficiency natural gas generation will help in achieving this goal.

Water flow can vary in wetlands. Freshwater marshes and swamps are characterized by _____. a. dry soil b. rapid water flow c. slow water flow d. irregular water flow

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