Biological determinants of species diversity.

A. Shmida, M. V. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1119 Scopus citations

Abstract

Examines 4 categories of biological mechanisms of determinants which cause and maintain species diversity: niche relations, habitat diversity, and 2 original determinants, mass effect (the establishment of species in sites where they cannot be self-maintaining) and ecological equivalency (the coexistence of species with effectively identical niche and habitat requirements). The mode of action and ecological implications of each biological determinant are discussed using a schematic method for measuring alpha (community), beta (differentiation), and gamma (regional) diversities. Floristic richness and, in particular, the richness of floristic transitions are discussed and interpreted by use of the biological determinants of diversity. Contact transitions between distinct floras are rich predominantly because of mass effects. Transitions induced by marked environmental changes are rich because of the combined influences of habitat diversity and mass effects. The rate at which species richness increases with sample area is related to the combined effects of all 4 biological determinants. This complexity explains the failures of simple species-area models. The relative intensity of each determinant is related to area: niche relations are most important at within-community scales, habitat diversity most important at both within-community and landscape scales, and ecological equivalency most important at regional scales.-from Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-20
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Biogeography
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1985

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