This is all the info that the teacher gave us, so just saying it is ambigous is

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This is all the info that the teacher gave us, so just saying it is ambigous is not helpful... instead, especially since college students are spending money on this sight for help so we can learn, why don't you try to help solve the question or if you do not know the answer and can not figure it out, leave your comment blank. Thank you.

Original Question:

Some 40,000,000 years from now the volcanic Erebor Archipelago will form west of the Australian subcontinent (the nearest major landmass). After reading Section 20.4 in your text, contemplate the following geographical data, and answer the questions below:

                                                  Island             Distance from Australia (km)             Size (km2)

North Panem               3502                        1544

South Panem               3523                        95

             Snow                            955                          1540

             Mellark                         950                           99

Everdeen                      789                          444

Haymitch                    1828                          699

A. Based on the Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography (MacArthur and Wilson), predict the following and explain your choice (6 points):

                              Island(s) with highest colonization rates:

                              Island(s) with lowest colonization rates:

                              Island(s) with highest extinction rates:

                              Island(s) with lowest extinction rates:

                              Island(s) with highest equilibrium species richness:

                              Island(s) with lowest equilibrium species richness:

B. This model does not always predict the number of species on an island. Examples of one factor influencing the number of species on an island that is not incorporated in this model include finches in the Galápagos Islands and honeycreepers and Drosophila in the Hawaiian Islands. What factor is this? (10 points)

Explanation / Answer

A.

Island(s) with highest colonization rates: Snow Island.Though Everdeen island is nearest to the mainland Australia but its size is very small than Snow Island. Moreover Snow is not much far from Australia. The greater size of Snow will provide greater biodiversity and ample of resources to species living on it. Nearness to mainland will promote more random dispersion of organisms. Resulting into highest colonization rate.

Island(s) with lowest colonization rates: South Panem. Because it is farthest apart from Australia and has smallest size also. These two factors will stop both 'random dispersion' and 'species diversity' in the island.

Island(s) with highest extinction rates: South Panem. Greatest distance from mainland and smallest size will isolate its species leading to extinction because no further species can be added to it as no random dispersion can be possible. Smallest size will restrict the availability of resources.

Island(s) with lowest extinction rates: Snow. Due to larger size diverse rich resources will be present leading to more number of species, more reproductive success. If there is any natural disaster, then also the larger size and ample of resources will revive and re-establish it. Nearness to the mainland will continue the random diversion of species from Australia.

lsland(s) with highest equilibrium species richness: Everdeen and Snow. Because the balance between extinction and immigration cause equilibrium in species richness. Immigration will be highest in Everdeen as it is nearest to mainland. So, number of organisms extincted will be very less than the number of organisms immigrated into the Everdeen island. Snow has both the factors positive: Size is large and distance to mainland is also less. So will also have greater equilibrium richness.

Island(s) with lowest equilibrium species richness: South Panem. Due to farthest distance and smallest size.

B: The factor which can influence the number of species on an island can be Natural Selection. Darwin found that 13 species of Finches found on Galapagos Island had different beak sizes. Only one species of these flinches were present on mainland. He discovered that the different beak sizes in these birds was due to different kinds of food available on island. hence nature was playing its role in carrying forward the useful trait across the generations and making the species adaptive to fluorish in the ecosystem of island.

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