Scribd
Upload
9 views8 pages

Zoology Assignment

Uploaded by

Ross Geller
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views8 pages

Zoology Assignment

Uploaded by

Ross Geller
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

DSE- EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY

Title-
“Macroecological datasets and statistical patterns of Abundance”

Group members:
1. Gursimar Kaur- 2022BLS1001
2. Manpreet Kaur- 2022BLS1005
3. Tarushi Maurya-2022BLS1015

INTRODUCTION
Macroecology focuses on large-scale patterns and
processes influencing species abundance, diversity,
and distribution. It aims to understand ecological
dynamics across broad spatial and temporal scales,
contrasting with microecological studies that
investigate species interactions on a smaller scale.

Key Aspects:
Scaling Laws:
Examines relationships like species–area relationships (SARs) and the
distribution of abundance among species.

Global Databases:
Use of large datasets, such as GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information
Facility), BBS (Breeding Bird Survey), and the TRY Plant Trait
Database, which contain extensive records of species observations,
traits, and distributions.
MACROECOLOGICAL
DATASETS
Macroecological datasets are large-scale,
standardized collections of ecological data that
help scientists analyze and identify patterns of
biodiversity, species distribution, and abundance
over extensive geographical regions. These
datasets are pivotal for studying ecological
processes at broad spatial and temporal scales,
aiding in understanding large-scale
environmental patterns and changes. Below is a
detailed exploration of these datasets, including
their sources, key features, and applications.

Macroecological datasets are characterized by several features that


make them distinct and useful for large-scale ecological studies:

a) High Spatial and b) Taxonomic Breadth


Temporal Resolution
They include information across
These datasets often cover a wide range of taxonomic
extensive geographic areas, groups, such as plants, animals,
ranging from regional to fungi, and microbes. This
global scales, and provide comprehensive coverage helps
data collected over multiple in understanding biodiversity
years or decades. patterns.

c) Multifactorial Data
Macroecological datasets
often include multiple
variables like species
occurrence, abundance,
climatic factors, habitat
types, and land-use data.
Sources of Macroecological Datasets

GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) :


A massive open-access database that
aggregates species occurrence data from
multiple sources, including museums, herbaria,
and citizen science projects. It contains millions
of records across various taxa (plants, animals,
fungi), helping researchers track species
distributions over time and space.

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) :


A long-term, large-scale survey that monitors
bird populations in North America, providing
data on species abundance and distribution
trends over decades.

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) :

Conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, this


program collects comprehensive data on
forest composition, structure, and health,
contributing to macroecological studies on
forest ecosystems.
Challenges of Macroecological Datasets

Data Quality and Standardization :


Variability in data collection methods,
sampling effort, and taxonomic accuracy
can introduce biases. Standardizing
datasets and validating the data quality
are essential to ensure reliable analyses.

Data Gaps :
Data Gaps: There are often gaps in the data,
especially
There areinoften gaps lin the
understudied regions
data,(e.g., tropical
especially
rainforests, deep oceans)
in understudied regionsand among
(e.g., poorly
tropical
documented taxa
rainforests, (e.g.,
deep invertebrates,
oceans) and among fungi). These
poorly
gaps can limit
documented taxathe comprehensiveness
(e.g., of
invertebrates, fungi).
These gaps macroecological studies.
can limit the comprehensiveness
of macroecological studies.

Complexity in Analysis :

The multifactorial nature of


macroecological data, involving numerous
interacting variables, makes statistical
analysis complex. Advanced modeling
techniques and machine learning are
increasingly used to handle this complexity.
STATISTICAL PATTERNS
OF ABUNDANCE

Statistical Patterns of Abundance refer


to the regularities observed in how
individuals are distributed among
species in ecological communities. These
patterns are essential for understanding
biodiversity and community structure.

1.Species Abundance Distributions (SADs):


Species Abundance Distributions are a key component in studying
statistical patterns of abundance. They describe the relative abundance of
different species within a community. SADs typically follow certain
characteristic shapes:

Logseries Distribution: The Lognormal Distribution: In this


logseries distribution is common distribution, the log of species
in highly diverse communities abundances follows a normal
with many rare species and a few (bell-shaped) curve. Most species
dominant ones. have intermediate abundance,
with fewer species being either
Example: Tropical rainforests, very rare or very common.
where a few tree species are
highly abundant, while most Example: Temperate forests,
species are represented by only a where the majority of species
few individuals. have moderate population sizes.

Power-law Distribution: This


pattern, characterized by a "long
tail," indicates that there are
many rare species but also a few
extremely abundant ones.

Example: Marine plankton


communities, where a few species
dominate but there is a vast
diversity of less abundant species
2.Species–Area Relationships (SARs):
SARs describe how species richness increases
with the area sampled. This pattern helps
predict species loss due to habitat reduction
and is widely used in conservation planning. It
highlights the importance of preserving large
habitats to maintain biodiversity.

3.Species Rank–Abundance Curves (Whittaker Plots):

These curves plot species abundance against their


rank, with the most abundant species ranked first.
They show the relative abundance of species in a
community, often revealing steep declines for
highly uneven communities or gentle slopes for
more balanced ones.
Example: In a community dominated by a few
species, the curve drops steeply, while in more
equitable communities, the decline is gradual.

4.Latitudinal Gradient in Species Abundance:

There is a notable pattern where species


richness decreases from the equator towards
the poles. Tropical regions have a higher
number of species, with many being rare,
while temperate and polar regions have fewer
but more abundant species.
Abundance and Its Ecological Significance

Species abundance refers to the number of individuals of a particular


species in a given area. It is a fundamental ecological parameter that
influences community structure, ecosystem function, and species
interactions. Factors that affect species abundance include:

·Habitat quality: The availability of suitable habitat, including food,


water, and shelter.
·Competition: Competition with other species for resources.

·Predation: Predation by other organisms.

·Disturbance: Natural and human-induced disturbances that can


affect populations.
·Climate change: Changes in climate can alter species distributions
and abundance.

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION
Macroecological datasets are large-scale compilations of
ecological data that provide insights into broad patterns of
biodiversity and ecosystem processes. These datasets are crucial
for understanding how species are distributed across landscapes,
how communities assemble, and how ecosystems function. By
analyzing these datasets, researchers can identify global trends,
test ecological theories, and make predictions about the future of
biodiversity in the face of climate change and other human
impacts.

Statistical patterns of abundance provide a window into the


underlying processes that shape ecological communities. By
analyzing these patterns, ecologists can infer the dynamics of
species interactions, community structure, and the effects of
environmental pressures. This field continues to evolve with
advancements in data collection and modeling techniques, offering
deeper insights into the complexities of natural ecosystems.
REFERENCES

1. Wang, X., Zhang, F., & Zhang, J. (2017). Biodiversity


information resources. I. Species distribution, catalogue,
phylogeny, and life history traits. Biodiversity Science,
25(11), 1223–1238. https://doi.org/10.17520/biods.2017184
2. ⁠Guralnick, R. P., Hill, A. W., & Lane, M. (2007). Towards a
collaborative, global infrastructure for biodiversity
assessment. Ecology Letters, 10(8), 663–672.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01063.x
3. McGill, B., & Collins, C. (2003). A unified theory for
macroecology based on spatial patterns of abundance.
https://www.evolutionary-
ecology.com/abstracts/v05/1530.html
4. Gaston, K. J., & Blackburn, T. M. (2000). Pattern and
process in macroecology. In Wiley eBooks.
https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470999592
5. Cornford, R., Deinet, S., De Palma, A., Hill, S. L. L., McRae,
L., Pettit, B., Marconi, V., Purvis, A., & Freeman, R. (2020).
Fast, scalable, and automated identification of articles
for biodiversity and macroecological datasets. Global
Ecology and Biogeography, 30(1), 339–347.
https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13219

You might also like