Roles of Spatial Scale and Rarity on the Relationship between Butterfly Species Richness and Human Density in South Africa

摘要: Wildlife and humans tend to prefer the same productive environments, yet high human densities often lead reduced biodiversity. Species richness is positively correlated with population density at broad scales, but this correlation could also be caused by unequal sampling effort leading higher species tallies in areas of dense activity. We examined relationships between butterfly five spatial resolutions ranging from 2' 60' across South Africa. used atlas-type data interpolation techniques aimed reducing effect sampling. Our results confirm general positive total density. Contrary our expectations, strength did not weaken finer resolutions. The patterns observed using were driven mostly common species. threatened restricted range was None correlations we particularly strong, much unexplained variance remaining, suggesting that overlap butterflies strong compared other factors accounted for analyses. Special consideration needs made regarding conservation goals variables when investigating biodiversity conservation.