40.

3 Review:
Distribution of
Species
Mary, Vivien, Lauren, Matthew
Key Concepts

● How do human actions impact a species’ distribution?

● How do biotic factors limit the distribution of a species?
● How do abiotic factors such as sunlight, temperature, and
salinity affect the distribution of species?
● How does dispersal affect the global distribution of organisms?
● What factors control the distribution of species?
Background Information: Interactions
between organisms
● Mutualism- benefits both organisms involved, ex: Oxpecker eats ticks off
a Rhinoceros
● Commensalism - one organism benefits while the other is neither
harmed nor benefits, ex: clownfish living in an anemone
● Parasitism- one organism benefits while the other is harmed, ex: flea on a
dog
Background Information
● Continental Drift: Alfred Wegener proposed the theory that all the
continents were once connected as a supercontinent called Pangaea.
However, his theory was not accepted because it lacked the mechanisms
for how it worked. Now we know that tectonic activity is what causes
continents to move because continents rest on massive slabs of rock
called tectonic plates which are still continuing to move.
Background Information

● Geographic Isolation: Separation of two populations of the same species

by a physical barrier. Can ultimately lead to develop of new species
(speciation) as each population adapts to its environment. There are
multiple types of geographic isolation such as: barrier, distance, and
event.
○ Barrier Isolation: due to a physical barrier in between two
populations, ex: mountains, ocean, highways
○ Isolation by distance: when there is a significant amount of land or
water between two populations they can’t mate.
○ Isolation after an event: an earthquake, forest fire, land breaks
away from continent (continental drift) are causes of geographic
isolation after an event.
Interactions between organisms and the
environment
● Simple factors such as evolutionary displacements show
geological factors affecting distribution patterns.
● Factors such as food availability and predation patterns may also
lead to an effect on distribution and territorial patterns
● Temperature and climate also limit where certain may or may
not go, as well as different species of the same animal.
Dispersal and Distribution

Dispersal- the movement of individuals or gametes away from their area of origin or from
centers of high population density
➢ Important to understanding the distribution of of species today

Is dispersal a key factor in limiting the distribution of a species?

Scientists look at intentional and accidental transplants

Successful transplant characteristics

● Organisms survive and reproduce
● Potential range is larger than it's actual range (the species could live in areas where it
does not currently reside)

Scientists rarely do intentional transplants

Biotic Factors

Biotic factors have a part in limiting the distribution of a

species.

● Predator and Prey- predators can overpopulate and feed

on a certain species and limit that species
● Herbivores- herbivores can eat too much of a plant and
not give it enough time to grow back
● Pollinators and pathogens are put in place to act as biotic
limitations
● Sea Urchins and Seaweed
Abiotic Factors
The last concept discussed in this part of the chapter is Abiotic Factors. It
considers if abiotic factors can limit a species’ distribution. If the physical
conditions of an ecosystem are unsuitable for a species to survive and
reproduce then the species will not be found there.

Some abiotic factors include:

● Temperature- affects all biological processes

● Water- varies in availability can drastically affect organism
● Salinity- affects water balance of organisms through osmosis
● Sunlight- provides energy, too little limits distribution of photosynthesis
● Rocks and Soil- on land the pH, mineral composition, and physical
structure limit distribution of plants; in water the substrate(riverbed)
determines the organisms that attach or burrow also affects the the
water chemistry
Scientific Names

● Oxpecker- Buphagus
● Rhinoceros- Rhinocerotidae
● Clownfish- Amphiprioninae
● Anemone- Actiniaria
● Flea- Siphonaptera
● Dog- Canis lupus familiaris
● Sea Urchin- Echinoidea
● Seaweed - Chondrus
Sources

● https://a-z-animals.com/animals/scientific/
● http://education.seattlepi.com/five-types-ecological-relationships-4019.html
● http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-geographic-isolation.html
● https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/continental-drift/