Human density as an influence on species/area relationships: double jeopardy for small African reserves?

摘要: Small reserves are especially likely to lose species. Is that because the small, or small located in adverse landscapes? It seems question has rarely, if ever, been asked. Data on reserve size and location Africa, calculations of local (within 50 km) mean human densities from available census records per province country were database here used answer question. IUCN grade I II Africa across range country, including regions higher than average density. Furthermore correlates with density, such indeed significantly more large be high density (n = 169; P < 0.0001). However, while human-caused mortality carnivores (the only taxon for which we had data), it does not correlate detected extinctions east region data). Rather, area is main predictor. Nevertheless, abundant other evidence effects persistence species wilderness indicates need take as a warning findings reported occur mortality. They indicate might face double jeopardy both their size, also situation hostile surroundings. In effect, isolated habitat current analyses conservation biology, landscape ecology, metapopulation analysis usually indicate.