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The area-independent effects of habitat complexity on biodiversity vary between regions

The area-independent effects of habitat complexity on biodiversity vary between regions
The area-independent effects of habitat complexity on biodiversity vary between regions
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.
fractal, heterogeneity, lottery, spacing, topography
1461-023X
126-132
Johnson, Mark P.
2324fb61-aaf2-42cf-b0f3-79a96297dce4
Frost, Natalie J.
a5d28e69-5fd9-4ca1-87b5-824b98f1afd1
Mosley, Matthew W.J.
9f9ca3c9-4124-4a32-b15d-c54af6a43411
Roberts, Malcolm.F.
d8e4ead8-f4e2-4680-98cd-44c0388ebeef
Hawkins, Stephen J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Johnson, Mark P.
2324fb61-aaf2-42cf-b0f3-79a96297dce4
Frost, Natalie J.
a5d28e69-5fd9-4ca1-87b5-824b98f1afd1
Mosley, Matthew W.J.
9f9ca3c9-4124-4a32-b15d-c54af6a43411
Roberts, Malcolm.F.
d8e4ead8-f4e2-4680-98cd-44c0388ebeef
Hawkins, Stephen J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa

Johnson, Mark P., Frost, Natalie J., Mosley, Matthew W.J., Roberts, Malcolm.F. and Hawkins, Stephen J. (2003) The area-independent effects of habitat complexity on biodiversity vary between regions. Ecology Letters, 6 (2), 126-132. (doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00404.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

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.

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More information

Submitted date: 4 October 2002
Published date: February 2003
Keywords: fractal, heterogeneity, lottery, spacing, topography

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 57734
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/57734
ISSN: 1461-023X
PURE UUID: ea2a1c3d-6459-4be8-a809-280d4633b571

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Date deposited: 08 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:08

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Contributors

Author: Mark P. Johnson
Author: Natalie J. Frost
Author: Matthew W.J. Mosley
Author: Malcolm.F. Roberts

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