Question 1

Which of the following is the primary driver of species distribution across the globe?

Accepted Answer

Temperature and precipitation

Question 2

The latitudinal diversity gradient describes which of the following patterns?

Accepted Answer

Species diversity is highest in the tropics and decreases with increasing latitude.

Question 3

Which hypothesis suggests that higher energy input in the tropics leads to greater species diversity?

Accepted Answer

Energy hypothesis

Question 4

Historical biogeography is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

The study of how past environmental factors have shaped current species distributions.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of vicariance?

Accepted Answer

A landmass splitting due to continental drift, separating a population into two.

Question 6

According to the equilibrium theory of island biogeography, which island would have the highest equilibrium number of species?

Accepted Answer

A large island close to the mainland

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why larger islands support more species than smaller islands?

Accepted Answer

Larger islands have more niche space and lower extinction rates.

Question 8

If two islands are the same size but one is closer to the mainland, what does the equilibrium theory of island biogeography predict?

Accepted Answer

The closer island will have more species due to higher immigration rates.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT one of the four main hypotheses for the latitudinal diversity gradient?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen limitation hypothesis

Question 10

A lineage of lizards is found today in Northern Canada, Europe, and South America. If their distribution is due to vicariance from continental drift, what would you expect about their evolutionary relationships?

Accepted Answer

Species from the same continent are more closely related to each other than to those from other continents.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the effect of continental drift on biogeographical regions?

Accepted Answer

It causes regions that stay connected to have more closely related species.

Question 12

Which of the following equations best represents the species-area relationship?

Accepted Answer

$$S = cA^z$$

Question 13

A volcanic island forms far from any continent. Which process is most likely to initially determine which species colonize the island?

Accepted Answer

Long-distance dispersal

Question 14

Which of the following is a real-world example of how biotic factors can limit species distribution?

Accepted Answer

A bird species is absent from an area because of competition with another bird species.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the equilibrium theory of island biogeography is correct?

Accepted Answer

Extinction rates are lower on larger islands.

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why the tropics have higher biodiversity than temperate regions?

Accepted Answer

Low seasonality results in stable environmental conditions, making it easier for organisms to survive and reproduce.

Question 17

If a scientist removes all insects from several islands and observes that species numbers return to pre-removal levels after a year, what does this support?

Accepted Answer

The equilibrium theory of island biogeography

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of long-distance dispersal?

Accepted Answer

Seeds carried by wind from one continent to another.

Question 19

Which of the following factors is most likely to increase the extinction rate on an island?

Accepted Answer

Small island size

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the relationship between speciation, extinction, and net diversification rate?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{Net diversification rate} = 	ext{Speciation rate} - 	ext{Extinction rate}$$

Biogeography: Patterns and Processes in Species Distribution

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