Year: 1998
Type: dissertation
Abstract: I examined the contraction of geographic ranges in 245 species. Remnant portions of the geographic range tended to persist in the periphery of the species' historical range. Larger patches of the geographic ranges persisted longer than smaller patches. For species that occurred on both the mainland and islands, islands maintained their populations better than the mainland. All of the continents except Africa, had significantly more species persist in the periphery than near the center of the species' historical range. While continental species had significantly more species persist in their historical periphery, insular species showed no such bias. I suggest that the observed patterns of range contraction may be the result of isolation from human disturbance. Patterns in the contraction of geographic ranges may be of value in building the conservation of sensitive species.
Author: Robert B. Channell
Language: English
Subfield: Ecological Modeling
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2736136789