Calculation of immigration and extinction curves from the species-area-distance relation

Abstract

Quantitative models of the species-area-distance relation, based on equilibria between immigration and extinction rates, were tested against data for birds on 52 Solomon islands. Biologically reasonable models account for 98% of the variance in species number. The data are adequate to permit determination of immigration and extinction curves and the values of 7 associated parameters. The resulting curves are very concave. Extinction rates vary almost exactly as the reciprocal of area, but the effect of area on immigration rates is slight. Recognition of major differences among species in immigration and extinction rates and in dispersal distances proves essential to a successful model.