Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Biodiversity and Conservation

Question:

What does the variable 'S' stand for in the species-area relationship?

Options:

species richness

slope of the line

specific area

special species

 

Correct Answer:

species richness

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (1) - species richness

During his extensive explorations in the South American jungles, the renowned German naturalist and geographer Alexander von Humboldt made an intriguing observation. He noticed that as the explored area increased within a region, the species richness also increased, but only up to a certain limit. In fact, this relationship between species richness and area, observed across various taxa such as angiosperm plants, birds, bats, and freshwater fishes, follows a rectangular hyperbola. On a logarithmic scale, this relationship is represented by a straight line described by the equation:

log S = log C + Z log A

where: S = Species richness

A = Area Z = Slope of the line (regression coefficient)

C = Y-intercept

In summary, Alexander von Humboldt's findings led to the understanding of the species-area relationship, which demonstrates how species richness varies with the size of the explored area in a particular region.