The Species–Area Relationship

Provides a comprehensive synthesis of a fundamental phenomenon, the species–area relationship, addressing theory, evidence and application.

The species–area relationship is a fundamental but poorly understood pattern and building block within biogeography and ecology. It is covered within ecology, biogeography and conservation courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This book combines reviews of key concepts and theory with novel cutting-edge theoretical and applied research.The species–area relationship (SAR) describes a range of related phenomena that are fundamental to the study of biogeography, macroecology and community ecology. While the subject of ongoing debate for a century, surprisingly, no previous book has focused specifically on the SAR. This volume addresses this shortfall by providing a synthesis of the development of SAR typologies and theory, as well as empirical research and application to biodiversity conservation problems. It also includes a compilation of recent advances in SAR research, comprising novel SAR-related theories and findings from the leading authors in the field. The chapters feature specific knowledge relating to terrestrial, marine and freshwater realms, ensuring a comprehensive volume relevant to a wide range of fields, with a mix of review and novel material and with clear recommendations for further research and application.