Ecosystem Distribution I: Temperature and Moisture

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

In this course, Professor Rob Marchant (University of York) explores ecosystems and biodiversity. In the first module, we think about some key factors which shape the global distribution of ecosystems, with a particular focus on temperature and moisture levels. The second module considers the role of elevation in shaping patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem location, as well as ecosystem formation on islands. In the third module, we turn to biodiversity hotspots – areas of special ecological importance and threatened status – focusing on the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya. We conclude with a fourth module on the impacts of human activity on ecosystems, and management strategies to preserve biodiversity.

Ecosystem Distribution I: Temperature and Moisture

In this module, we think about the influences on global ecosystem distribution, most importantly temperature and moisture. We focus on: (i) how climate determines the geographical distribution of ecosystems, such as the concentration of rainforests around the equator; (ii) the role of geology in these spatial patterns, especially with regard to the capacity of the ground surface to hold moisture; (iii) global tendencies in species diversity, most notably the increase in number of species with proximity to the equator; (iv) biodiversity hotspots – a varied set of regions defined by their particular ecological importance and threatened status.