SCALE IN ECOLOGY

SPACE
TIME Global Local

Earth’s position in
Geological relation to Sun and
its implications for
exobiology Early evolution of
atmosphere and biology

Cambrian explosion
EXTINCTIONS

MASS Continental drift and

Increase in complexity and species

Biogeography
Background rate of extinctions
Break-up of Pangaea and
adaptive radiation of mammals
richness (S)
Zoogeographical realms

Placentals Marsupials

Pleistocene Ice Ages

Modern distribution Current regional and landscape

of Ecology
Recent Patches
biomes
Highest Current Matrix
S Corridors
mass
today extinction Stratification of Ecosystems
Global gradient in S
eg coral reefs Vertical Horizontal Estuaries
range of
Soils Forest Lakes
theories
Global gradient in soil fertility

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Ch. 8 Ecology of the Earth