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Why is species richness often higher in more densely populated regions?

Why is species richness often higher in more densely populated regions? Over the last two decades, a number of studies in different locations have identified a positive correlation between human population size or density and the species richness of various taxonomic groups across space (e.g. Hunter & Yonzon, 1993; Chown , 2003; Gaston & Evans, 2004; Fjeldså & Burgess, 2008 ). This correlation is surprising given the undoubted negative impact of human development on the persistence of many species. At closer inspection, the spatial congruence between people and species richness is generally weaker when the size of the sampling unit (grain size) is small ( Luck, 2007; Pautasso, 2007 ). For example, strong positive correlations are often reported for studies across broad extents (e.g. continents or countries) using a sampling grain of 0.5–1° grid cells, but these correlations tend to weaken or become negative when grain size is much smaller (e.g. 10 km 2 ). The latter makes intuitive sense, as increasing urbanization can reduce species richness at local scales ( McKinney, 2008 ), but the broad‐scale positive correlation is nevertheless unexpected and warrants greater attention. While some have speculated about what drives this broad‐scale correlation, there have been few comprehensive tests of potential drivers (although see, e.g. Hugo http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Animal Conservation Wiley

Why is species richness often higher in more densely populated regions?

Luck, G. W.
Animal Conservation , Volume 13 (5) – Oct 1, 2010
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References (16)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 The Zoological Society of London
ISSN
1367-9430
eISSN
1469-1795
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-1795.2010.00396.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Over the last two decades, a number of studies in different locations have identified a positive correlation between human population size or density and the species richness of various taxonomic groups across space (e.g. Hunter & Yonzon, 1993; Chown , 2003; Gaston & Evans, 2004; Fjeldså & Burgess, 2008 ). This correlation is surprising given the undoubted negative impact of human development on the persistence of many species. At closer inspection, the spatial congruence between people and species richness is generally weaker when the size of the sampling unit (grain size) is small ( Luck, 2007; Pautasso, 2007 ). For example, strong positive correlations are often reported for studies across broad extents (e.g. continents or countries) using a sampling grain of 0.5–1° grid cells, but these correlations tend to weaken or become negative when grain size is much smaller (e.g. 10 km 2 ). The latter makes intuitive sense, as increasing urbanization can reduce species richness at local scales ( McKinney, 2008 ), but the broad‐scale positive correlation is nevertheless unexpected and warrants greater attention. While some have speculated about what drives this broad‐scale correlation, there have been few comprehensive tests of potential drivers (although see, e.g. Hugo

Journal

Animal Conservation – Wiley

Published: Oct 1, 2010

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