Several Hypotheses Have Been Proposed to Explain Patterns of Species

question 170

Multiple Choice

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain patterns of species diversity based on latitude.Applying one of these hypotheses, where might one expect to find the greatest species diversity, and why?

• A) Tropics, because of the isolation from other biomes
• B) Tropics, because of the large area and warm, stable climate
• C) Temperate zones, because they extend over most of Earth
• D) Temperate zones, because their distinct seasons stimulate speciation
• E) Polar zones, because high ocean productivity overcomes high extinctions

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Definitions:

Mountain Belt

A series of mountain ranges connected over a large area, formed through processes like tectonic plate collision and volcanic activity.

Island Arc

A curved series of volcanic islands located at a tectonic plate boundary, typically formed above a subducting plate.

Convergent Plate Boundary

A region where two tectonic plates move towards each other, often causing earthquakes and forming mountains.

Oceanic Trench

A deep, narrow depression in the ocean floor, usually occurring at subduction zones where one tectonic plate is being forced under another.