Service Learning?

Review - Goodrich Prairie Project

• What is the land history at this part of the property
• What can you tell me about the process of establishing the prairie?
• What is the experimental setup?
• What variables are being measured?
• Why are we doing this?

Picking up from Monday

Island Biogeography (not always islands!)

IB and Fragmentation

Isolation: Each habitat fragment is isolated from other similar fragments, limiting the movement of species between them. The degree of isolation depends on the distance between fragments and the nature of the intervening matrix (e.g., agricultural land, roads, urban areas).

Size: Larger fragments tend to support more species than smaller ones due to greater habitat diversity and resources, and lower extinction rates.

Edge Effects: The boundaries or edges of fragments experience different environmental conditions (e.g., increased light, wind, and temperature) than the interior, which can influence species composition and ecological processes. Smaller fragments have a higher proportion of edge habitat, making them more susceptible to edge effects.

Connectivity: The degree to which fragments are connected by corridors or stepping stones influences the ability of species to move between them, affecting gene flow, colonization, and recolonization.

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IB concepts pertinent to AFS

• Habitat Isolation: Similar to how islands are isolated by water, AFSs are effectively isolated by the surrounding matrix of agricultural or degraded land. This isolation can influence the types and number of species that can colonize and persist within the AFS.
• Species Richness and Area: Island biogeography theory predicts that larger islands tend to support more species than smaller ones. Similarly, larger AFSs are likely to harbor greater biodiversity than smaller ones, providing more diverse habitats and resources.
• Edge Effects: The boundaries between AFSs and the surrounding matrix can create edge effects, influencing microclimate, species interactions, and dispersal. Managing these edge effects is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the AFS as a biodiversity island.
• Connectivity: Connectivity between islands or AFSs can facilitate species movement and gene flow, promoting genetic diversity and resilience. Some highlights include the role of AFSs like living fences and windbreaks in enhancing connectivity within fragmented landscapes.

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IB, AFS, and Restoration Ecology

Habitat Creation and Enhancement: AFSs can be strategically designed and managed to create or enhance habitat for a wide range of species, effectively functioning as islands of biodiversity within degraded landscapes.

Connectivity and Corridors: The placement and design of AFSs can be planned to create corridors that facilitate the movement of species between fragmented habitats, promoting ecological connectivity and resilience.

Stepping Stones: AFSs can act as stepping stones, enabling species to disperse across otherwise inhospitable landscapes, aiding in the recolonization of degraded areas.

Refuge and Resilience: In the face of climate change and other disturbances, AFSs can provide refuges for species, helping to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem resilience at the landscape level.

Ecological Restoration: By incorporating principles of succession and natural regeneration, AFSs can contribute to the active restoration of degraded lands, enhancing ecosystem function and biodiversity.

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Landscape Approach when designing and managing AFSs for biodiversity conservation and restoration

• Connectivity and Fragmentation: Agricultural landscapes are often fragmented, with patches of natural habitat interspersed with cultivated areas. AFSs can play a vital role in connecting these fragmented habitats, acting as corridors for wildlife movement and gene flow. A landscape approach ensures that AFSs are strategically placed to enhance connectivity and mitigate the negative impacts of fragmentation.
• Spillover Effects: AFSs can have positive spillover effects on surrounding ecosystems. For example, they can provide habitat for pollinators and natural enemies of pests, benefiting nearby crops and natural vegetation. A landscape approach helps to maximize these positive spillover effects by considering the interactions between AFSs and the surrounding landscape.
• Ecosystem Services: AFSs can provide a range of ecosystem services, such as water regulation, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration, that benefit the broader landscape. A landscape approach helps to ensure that AFSs are designed and managed to optimize the provision of these ecosystem services.
• Socioeconomic Context: The success of AFSs for biodiversity conservation and restoration also depends on the socioeconomic context in which they are implemented. A landscape approach considers the needs and constraints of local communities, ensuring that AFSs are compatible with their livelihoods and contribute to their well-being.

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How do we access digitized natural history collection �and citizen science data?�

Data Portals

Data portals

• Aggregate data from museums, research collections, and in some cases citizen science data.
• Make specimen records (freely) available to researchers around the globe.
• Provide tools to search through the massive datasets.
• Provide mechanisms to keep track of how data are being used. �

Data Portals

iDigBio�

Data Portals

iDigBio�

Data Portals

iDigBio�

Data Portals

iDigBio�

Data Portals

iDigBio�

Data Portals

• Islands are fantastic places to study community ecology�

Islands

• What predicts species richness on an island?�

Island biogeography

• What predicts species richness on an island?�

Island biogeography

Species richness: �The number of species �in a given area

• What predicts species richness on an island?�

Island biogeography

• What predicts species richness on an island?�- Island size�- Distance from the mainland�

Island biogeography

Island biogeography

• It’s not just about islands!

Island biogeography

This week’s experiment

• “How does species richness vary with island size?”
• We will use iDigBio to access data for islands in the Alexander Archipelago

Data Portals & Island biogeography

This week’s experiment

• “How does species richness vary with island size?”
• Are there outliers in your data?
• What might account for these?

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Data Portals & Island biogeography