Use app×
Join Bloom Tuition
One on One Online Tuition
JEE MAIN 2025 Foundation Course
NEET 2025 Foundation Course
CLASS 12 FOUNDATION COURSE
CLASS 10 FOUNDATION COURSE
CLASS 9 FOUNDATION COURSE
CLASS 8 FOUNDATION COURSE
0 votes
1.1k views
in Biology by (26.4k points)
closed by

Observe the graph and explain Alexander von Humboldt’s views about species richness and area relationship.

1 Answer

+1 vote
by (35.7k points)
selected by
 
Best answer

1. Scientists have tried to establish relationship between species diversity and the size of the habitat. It is considered that number of species present is directly proportional to the area. 

2. It is understood that larger areas may have more resources that can be distributed amongst the inhabitant species. 

3. Alexander von Humboldt observed that species richness does increase with the increase in area but only till a certain limit. 

4. For many species this curve is a rectangular hyperbola. 

5. If we consider S to be species richness, A as area under study, C as the Y intercept and Z as the slope of the line, this relationship can be described by the equation, log S = log C + Z log A. 

6. On logarithmic scale this relationship is a straight line, as observed in the figure above. For smaller areas, value of Z ranges between 0.1 to 0.2 regardless of species or region under study. 

7. But for the larger areas like the entire continents, slopes are closer to vertical axis i.e. steeper. 

8. This observation indicates that in very large areas, number of species found, increase faster than the area explored.

Welcome to Sarthaks eConnect: A unique platform where students can interact with teachers/experts/students to get solutions to their queries. Students (upto class 10+2) preparing for All Government Exams, CBSE Board Exam, ICSE Board Exam, State Board Exam, JEE (Mains+Advance) and NEET can ask questions from any subject and get quick answers by subject teachers/ experts/mentors/students.

Categories

...