Species-area relationships were assessed for reptile species on two sets of islands in different regions of...

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Biology

Species-area relationships were assessed for reptile species ontwo sets of islands in different regions of the Indian Ocean. Theestimated parameters were as follows: Region 1: c=1.6,z=0.25; Region 2: c=1.8, z=0.35. It is expected that 40%of the reptile habitat will be lost to development pressure overthe next decade.
In which region do you expect the loss of reptile species to begreatest, and by how much? Show your work and explain your answer.(3 pts)
b) A different group of species is then assessed on islands inthe first region, and the estimated parameters for this speciesgroup are c=2.5, z=0.29. What can you conclude about:
i) species richness of this group relative to the reptiles inthis region? Why? (1 pts)
ii) the range size of this group relative to the reptiles inthis region? Why? (1 pts)
As the conservation officer for Region 2, you were theperson tasked with determining the species-area relationship ofreptiles in the region. Explain how you came up with the estimatesof c=1.8 and z=0.35 (3 pts)

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4.5 Ratings (674 Votes)

Speciesarea relationships or the correlation between thenumber of species and the island area is represented by theequation S cAZwhich can also be represented in the linear form by takinglogarithms on both sides log10S log10c z log10AHere S no of speciesA Area of the islandz slope of the speciesarea relationship in thelog10A versus log10S graphcconstant which dpends on the unit of area measurement and isnumerically equal to the number of species that would exist in theisland if the area was one square unitThis representation of speciesarea relationship is based on theequilibrium model of biogeography according to which bigger theisland greater the number of species At equilibrium each ofthese islands or habitats are considered to have equal rates ofimmigration and extinction Therefore if there are two islandswith similar immigration rates and at equilibrium then the biggerisland will have a lesser See Answer

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