The Multiple Forms of the Interspecific Abundance-Distribution Relationship

Gaston, Kevin J.

doi:10.2307/3546192

Cited by 300 publications

(359 citation statements)

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“…Snakes also confirmed the theory that rarity is often associated with large body size, but with subtle differences from other animal types (i.e., very small species are also often rare in snake communities). I also demonstrated that snakes may be useful in testing whether species with narrower realized niches are more likely to be rare or very rare (as predicted by Gaston 1996 andCurnutt 1998). This study, however, contradicts previous research on birds indicating that rare species are typically those that are phylogenetically primitive.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 55%

“…(3) Are rare snake species characterized by narrow realized ecological niches and high degrees of specialization (Gaston 1996, Gaston andCurnutt 1998)? (4) Do rare species typically belong to phylogenetically old and/or primitive taxa (Cotgreave and Pagel 1997)? That is: are some phylogenetically primitive families overrepresented in the samples of rare species?…”

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confidence: 99%

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Testing hypotheses on the ecological patterns of rarity using a novel model of study: snake communities worldwide

Luiselli

2006

Web Ecol.

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The theoretical and empirical causes and consequences of rarity are of central importance for both ecological theory and conservation. It is not surprising that studies of the biology of rarity have grown tremendously during the past two decades, with particular emphasis on patterns observed in insects, birds, mammals, and plants. I analyse the patterns of the biology of rarity by using a novel model system: snake communities worldwide. I also test some of the main hypotheses that have been proposed to explain and predict rarity in species. I use two operational definitions for rarity in snakes: Rare species (RAR) are those that accounted for 1% to 2% of the total number of individuals captured within a given community; Very rare species (VER) account for ≤1% of individuals captured. I analyse each community by sample size, species richness, continent, climatic region, habitat and ecological characteristics of the RAR and VER species. Positive correlations between total species number and the fraction of RAR and VER species and between sample size and rare species in general were found. As shownin previous insect studies, there is a clear trend for the percentage of RAR and VER snake species to increase in species-rich, tropical African and South American communities. This study also shows that rare species are particularly common in the tropics, although habitat type did not influence the frequency of RAR and VER species. This analysis also confirms the commonly accepted ecological hypothesis that body size and rarity are clearly and widely correlated in natural animal communities. However, in snake communities there is often an association between large and small species among the rare species, and a tendency for ophiophagous species to be rare. In addition, there was no support for the hypothesis that rare species should be typically phylogenetically primitive. The hypothesis that species with narrower realized ecological niches are more likely to be rare or very rare is supported by the evidence presented here on snake communities. In general, this study shows that snakes may make ”model organisms” for studies on the biology of rarity

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 55%

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confidence: 99%

Testing hypotheses on the ecological patterns of rarity using a novel model of study: snake communities worldwide

Luiselli

2006

Web Ecol.

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“…He suggested that, for a given species, the total area occupied (i.e., the sum of the occupied MMUs) might increase with the size of the MMU according to a fractal power relationship (see also Williamson and Lawton 1991;Gaston 1994); we shall term this an "area-area curve" (occupied area vs. sampling unit area). He used this relationship to estimate the total area occupied on a fine-scale map, based on the equation…”

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confidence: 99%

“…the occupancy of species, which is presently attracting much attention in the context of macroecology (Brown 1984(Brown , 1995Hanski et at. 1993;Lawton 1993;Gaston 1994Gaston , 1996Gaston et al 1997). Indeed, the formalization in mathematical terms of relationships between abundance and occupancy has largely been prevented because of the lack of knowledge about the levels of abundance associated with a given occurrence map.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The number of individuals, or the abundance, of a species in an area is a fundamental ecological parameter and a critical consideration when making management and conservation decisions (Andrewartha and Birch 1954;Krebs 1978;Gaston 1994;Caughley and Gunn 1996). However, unless the scale is very fine or localized (e.g., in a measurable habitat or a forest stand), abundance is not readily determined.…”

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