The area-independent effects of habitat complexity on biodiversity vary between regions.
Data(s) |
01/02/2003
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Resumo |
Potential explanatory variables often co-vary in studies of species richness. Where topography varies within a survey it is difficult to separate area and habitat-diversity effects. Topographically complex surfaces may contain more species due to increased habitat diversity or as a result of increased area per se. Fractal geometry can be used to adjust species richness estimates to control for increases in area on complex surfaces. Application of fractal techniques to a survey of rocky shores demonstrated an unambiguous area-independent effect of topography on species richness in the Isle of Man. In contrast, variation in species richness in south-west England reflected surface availability alone. Multivariate tests and variation in limpet abundances also demonstrated regional variation in the area-independent effects of topography. Community composition did not vary with increasing surface complexity in south-west England. These results suggest large-scale gradients in the effects of heterogeneity on community processes or demography. |
Identificador |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00404.x http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037314738&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
Idioma(s) |
eng |
Direitos |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
Fonte |
Johnson , M , Frost , N J , Mosley , M W J , Roberts , M F & Hawkins , S J 2003 , ' The area-independent effects of habitat complexity on biodiversity vary between regions. ' Ecology Letters , vol 6(2) , no. 2 , pp. 126-132 . DOI: 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00404.x |
Palavras-Chave | #/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303 #Ecology |
Tipo |
article |