AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Island Biogeography

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Island Biogeography, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Environmental Science.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What role do corridors play in island biogeography?

Answer: Facilitate species dispersal. Connecting pathways allow species movement between isolated habitat patches.

Flashcard 2: What is a key assumption of island biogeography theory?

Answer: Islands are isolated systems. Islands function as closed systems with limited immigration and emigration.

Flashcard 3: What is the impact of sea level rise on island biogeography?

Answer: Reduces island area, increasing extinction. Smaller land area supports fewer species due to habitat loss.

Flashcard 4: How does island isolation affect species immigration rates?

Answer: Greater isolation lowers immigration. Distance creates dispersal barriers that reduce successful colonization events.

Flashcard 5: Identify a factor that leads to higher species richness on islands.

Answer: Larger island size. More area provides diverse habitats and resources for multiple species.

Flashcard 6: How does island size affect genetic diversity?

Answer: Smaller islands have less genetic diversity. Limited population size reduces genetic variation through founder effects.

Flashcard 7: What is the term for the rate at which new species colonize an island?

Answer: Immigration Rate. Measures how frequently new species successfully establish on islands.

Flashcard 8: What is the term for the rate at which species become extinct on an island?

Answer: Extinction Rate. Measures how frequently existing species disappear from islands permanently.

Flashcard 9: State the relationship between island distance from the mainland and species richness.

Answer: Closer islands have higher species richness. Proximity reduces dispersal barriers and increases colonization opportunities.

Flashcard 10: Identify a method to test island biogeography theory.

Answer: Field studies on archipelagos. Empirical research in natural island systems validates theoretical predictions.

Flashcard 11: What impact do predators have on island species richness?

Answer: Can reduce species richness. Top consumers can eliminate prey species and alter community structure.

Flashcard 12: What effect do barriers have on species dispersal to islands?

Answer: Barriers reduce dispersal. Physical obstacles limit species movement and colonization between habitats.

Flashcard 13: What impact do predators have on island species richness?

Answer: Can reduce species richness. Top consumers can eliminate prey species and alter community structure.

Flashcard 14: What is the impact of human activity on island biogeography?

Answer: Alters species immigration and extinction. Habitat modification and species introductions disrupt natural equilibrium dynamics.

Flashcard 15: What is the effect of a keystone species on island biodiversity?

Answer: Maintains ecological balance. Critical species support ecosystem structure and function for other organisms.

Flashcard 16: How does island shape affect species distribution?

Answer: Irregular shapes can enhance habitat diversity. Complex coastlines create more microhabitats and ecological niches.

Flashcard 17: What is the primary focus of island biogeography?

Answer: Species distribution and richness. Examines how geographic factors influence species diversity patterns.

Flashcard 18: Identify a method to test island biogeography theory.

Answer: Field studies on archipelagos. Empirical research in natural island systems validates theoretical predictions.

Flashcard 19: What is the species-area relationship?

Answer: Species richness increases with area. Mathematical relationship showing species number increases with habitat area.

Flashcard 20: Which factor increases the rate of species immigration to an island?

Answer: Proximity to the mainland. Shorter distances reduce dispersal barriers and travel time for colonizing species.

Flashcard 21: How do invasive species affect island ecosystems?

Answer: They can increase extinction rates. Non-native species often outcompete or prey on endemic island species.

Flashcard 22: What is the main prediction of the island biogeography theory?

Answer: Equilibrium species number. Theory predicts a stable species count when immigration equals extinction rates.

Flashcard 23: What is the role of primary succession in island formation?

Answer: Establishes initial communities. Pioneer species colonize new volcanic surfaces and begin ecosystem development.

Flashcard 24: What term describes the balance of species immigration and extinction?

Answer: Equilibrium. Dynamic balance reached when immigration and extinction rates are equal.

Flashcard 25: What is the impact of human activity on island biogeography?

Answer: Alters species immigration and extinction. Habitat modification and species introductions disrupt natural equilibrium dynamics.

Flashcard 26: What is the impact of tourism on island ecosystems?

Answer: Can lead to habitat degradation. Human activities often disrupt natural ecosystems and native species.

Flashcard 27: Identify a factor that leads to lower species richness on islands.

Answer: Greater isolation. Distance from source populations reduces colonization and immigration rates.

Flashcard 28: What is the primary focus of island biogeography?

Answer: Species distribution and richness. Examines how geographic factors influence species diversity patterns.

Flashcard 29: Identify a factor that leads to higher species richness on islands.

Answer: Larger island size. More area provides diverse habitats and resources for multiple species.

Flashcard 30: Which factor increases the rate of species immigration to an island?

Answer: Proximity to the mainland. Shorter distances reduce dispersal barriers and travel time for colonizing species.

Flashcard 31: What is the relationship between island age and species richness?

Answer: Older islands generally have higher richness. Time allows more species to colonize and evolve on established islands.

Flashcard 32: What is the impact of habitat fragmentation on species extinction rates?

Answer: Increases extinction rates. Smaller, isolated habitat patches increase species vulnerability to local extinctions.

Flashcard 33: What is the role of primary succession in island formation?

Answer: Establishes initial communities. Pioneer species colonize new volcanic surfaces and begin ecosystem development.

Flashcard 34: What is the significance of endemism in island ecosystems?

Answer: High levels of unique species. Isolation promotes evolution of species found nowhere else on Earth.

Flashcard 35: What is the species-area relationship?

Answer: Species richness increases with area. Mathematical relationship showing species number increases with habitat area.

Flashcard 36: How does island shape affect species distribution?

Answer: Irregular shapes can enhance habitat diversity. Complex coastlines create more microhabitats and ecological niches.

Flashcard 37: What is the impact of tourism on island ecosystems?

Answer: Can lead to habitat degradation. Human activities often disrupt natural ecosystems and native species.

Flashcard 38: How does island isolation affect species immigration rates?

Answer: Greater isolation lowers immigration. Distance creates dispersal barriers that reduce successful colonization events.

Flashcard 39: What is the impact of habitat fragmentation on species extinction rates?

Answer: Increases extinction rates. Smaller, isolated habitat patches increase species vulnerability to local extinctions.

Flashcard 40: What effect does increased island area have on extinction rates?

Answer: Larger area lowers extinction rates. More space and resources reduce competition and support larger populations.

Flashcard 41: What term describes the balance of species immigration and extinction?

Answer: Equilibrium. Dynamic balance reached when immigration and extinction rates are equal.

Flashcard 42: What is a practical application of island biogeography theory in conservation?

Answer: Designing wildlife reserves. Theory guides optimal size and connectivity of protected areas.

Flashcard 43: What is the main prediction of the island biogeography theory?

Answer: Equilibrium species number. Theory predicts a stable species count when immigration equals extinction rates.

Flashcard 44: What is the term for the rate at which new species colonize an island?

Answer: Immigration Rate. Measures how frequently new species successfully establish on islands.

Flashcard 45: What is the impact of sea level rise on island biogeography?

Answer: Reduces island area, increasing extinction. Smaller land area supports fewer species due to habitat loss.

Flashcard 46: What is the significance of endemism in island ecosystems?

Answer: High levels of unique species. Isolation promotes evolution of species found nowhere else on Earth.

Flashcard 47: Which factor increases the rate of species extinction on an island?

Answer: Smaller island size. Limited resources and habitat space increase competition and population vulnerability.

Flashcard 48: What effect do barriers have on species dispersal to islands?

Answer: Barriers reduce dispersal. Physical obstacles limit species movement and colonization between habitats.

Flashcard 49: How does island size affect genetic diversity?

Answer: Smaller islands have less genetic diversity. Limited population size reduces genetic variation through founder effects.

Flashcard 50: What is a practical application of island biogeography theory in conservation?

Answer: Designing wildlife reserves. Theory guides optimal size and connectivity of protected areas.

Flashcard 51: What is the term for the number of species found on an island?

Answer: Species Richness. Measures total number of different species present in a given area or ecosystem.

Flashcard 52: What is the term for the number of species found on an island?

Answer: Species Richness. Measures total number of different species present in a given area or ecosystem.

Flashcard 53: How does volcanic activity influence island biogeography?

Answer: Creates new land for colonization. Eruptions form new islands available for species colonization and evolution.

Flashcard 54: What is the effect of a keystone species on island biodiversity?

Answer: Maintains ecological balance. Critical species support ecosystem structure and function for other organisms.

Flashcard 55: Identify the two key processes in island biogeography.

Answer: Immigration and Extinction. These opposing forces determine the equilibrium number of species on islands.

Flashcard 56: What is the term for the rate at which species become extinct on an island?

Answer: Extinction Rate. Measures how frequently existing species disappear from islands permanently.

Flashcard 57: What role do corridors play in island biogeography?

Answer: Facilitate species dispersal. Connecting pathways allow species movement between isolated habitat patches.

Flashcard 58: What concept explains species richness based on island size and distance from the mainland?

Answer: Island Biogeography Theory. Model predicting species diversity based on island area and isolation from source populations.

Flashcard 59: State the relationship between island size and species richness.

Answer: Larger islands have higher species richness. More area provides more habitats and resources to support diverse species populations.

Flashcard 60: How do invasive species affect island ecosystems?

Answer: They can increase extinction rates. Non-native species often outcompete or prey on endemic island species.

Flashcard 61: What effect does increased island area have on extinction rates?

Answer: Larger area lowers extinction rates. More space and resources reduce competition and support larger populations.

Flashcard 62: What is the relationship between island age and species richness?

Answer: Older islands generally have higher richness. Time allows more species to colonize and evolve on established islands.

Flashcard 63: State the relationship between island distance from the mainland and species richness.

Answer: Closer islands have higher species richness. Proximity reduces dispersal barriers and increases colonization opportunities.

Flashcard 64: What concept explains species richness based on island size and distance from the mainland?

Answer: Island Biogeography Theory. Model predicting species diversity based on island area and isolation from source populations.

Flashcard 65: What is a key assumption of island biogeography theory?

Answer: Islands are isolated systems. Islands function as closed systems with limited immigration and emigration.