Larger areas contain more species, commonly following a power law.
S = cA^z with z usually 0.15 to 0.35. A tenfold decrease in habitat area leads to roughly 50 percent loss of species at equilibrium. Used to predict extinction from habitat loss.
The slope depends on isolation and taxa. Used to estimate extinction after habitat loss.
Example: halving forest cover could eliminate about 10 to 15 percent of species eventually.
Larger areas contain more species, commonly following a power law.
Species-Area Relationship is one of the 52 topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Biodiversity Hotspots, Threats to Biodiversity, Protected Areas.
Islands and habitat fragments follow it.
Work through the Beginner topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity first, such as Taxonomy, Binomial Nomenclature, Taxonomic Hierarchy, then return to Species-Area Relationship. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Species-Area Relationship are Biodiversity Hotspots, Threats to Biodiversity, Protected Areas, Habitat Loss. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Species-Area Relationship. To practise the whole of Taxonomy & Biodiversity, use the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz.
Species-Area Relationship: Larger areas contain more species, commonly following a power law. Biodiversity Hotspots: Regions with exceptional endemic species that are highly threatened by habitat loss. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Biodiversity Hotspots and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Regions with exceptional endemic species that are highly threatened by habitat loss.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityHabitat loss, invasive species, pollution, overexploitation and climate change, often remembered as HIPPO.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityNational parks and reserves that conserve species and habitats under legal protection.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityDestruction of natural habitats by farming, logging and urbanisation, the leading threat to species.
🗂️ Taxonomy & Biodiversity