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ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (BIOL 354) – Fall 2018
Connell (1978) Questions for Discussion
- Describe the equal chance hypothesis in your own words (2 pts)
- Explain why, according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, diversity declines when disturbance occurs too frequently or not frequently enough (2 pts)
- Describe the methods presented for testing the niche-diversification hypothesis, and the potential limitations (2 pts).
- Is it possible that more than one hypothesis is correct? Why? (2 pts)
- Describe how the intermediate hypothesis applies to coral reefs and tropical forests. (2 pts).
- What are other hypotheses for why there is greater diversity in tropical rainforests and coral reefs? (2 pts)
- Explain the importance of the “edges” of disturbance. How do the species on the edges contribute to recovery from a disturbance? (2 pts)
- Do you think Connell’s hypotheses apply to less diverse ecosystems such as the Arctic or deep ocean? Explain. (2 pts)
- Which of these hypotheses, if any, can be applied to motile (non-sessile) organisms? How would the ability to move affect the overall diversity? (2 pts).
- Write out the citation for this journal article using the format of the journal Ecology (2 pts).
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Running Head: ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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Ecology and the Environment
Institution of Affiliation:
Name of student:
Date:
ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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Ecology and the Environment
1. Equal chance hypothesis
The species in a given place all have the same chances of survival when they get to a new
space. Chances of survival by colonizing the new space they enter is equal for the species
available
2. Explain why diversity declines when a disturbance occurs too frequently or not
frequently enough.
After disturbance has occurred, there is a high chance that new species, seeds, spores, or even
larvae will arrive in the places where disturbance has occurred (Connell 1978). This will give
room for diversification to increase as more time will be available for the new species to invade
new areas. On the ot...