On the Relation between Habitat Selection and Species Diversity

Abstract

Breeding bird censuses were made in Puerto Rico, (which has about 50 land bird species; Panama (which has ten times as many) and temperate United States and a profile of foliage density was made for each. Using information theory formulae, both diversity indices and measurements of difference between censuses and difference between habitats were constructed. Pureto Rico has nearly as many species per layer of vegetation, in small census areas, as do Panama and temperate United States, but the Puerto Rican species appear to recognize fewer layers and certainly subdivide habitats much less. Thus, different habitats are likely to have quite similar species in Puerto Rico, unlike Panama and temperate United States.