Fitting species-accumulation functions and assessing regional land use impacts on avian diversity

摘要: As one samples species from a particular assemblage, the initial rapid rate with which new are encountered declines increasing effort. Nine candidate models to characterize species–accumulation functions were compared in search for model that consistently fit geographically extensive avian survey data wide range of environmental conditions. Landscape-specific curves generated under bootstrap resampling plan best described by generalized Weibull cumulative distribution function. Traditional species–area richness as function accumulated sample had notable functional bias. The fitted equally well among sixty-six forested landscapes eastern U.S. Landscapes greater proportion agricultural and urban land uses more slowly than retained natural habitats (r=−0.64, P<0.001). This finding supports predictions ecosystem behavior human use. There was no evidence intermediate levels use intensity maximized accumulation rates. approach reviewed this paper makes assumptions about form species–abundance or how distributed space, thereby offering some advantages over conventional diversity indices characterizing assemblages respond anthropogenic disturbance. Investigation varies time given geographic area is needed evaluate fully potential application regional planning.