The Relation Between Species Numbers and Island Characteristics for Habitat Islands in a Volcanic Landscape
Carter-Lovejoy SH. 1982. The Relation Between Species Numbers and Island Characteristics for Habitat Islands in a Volcanic Landscape. Great Basin Naturalist (Western North American Naturalist). 42:113-119
Flora and fauna of kipukas; their relationship to kipuka size and degree of isolation. Study sites were located on 4 kipukas situated near eastern edge of CRMO (Craters of the Moon National Monument). Geographic location: Regional, east of CRMO. Within Craters of the Moon Lava Flow in Southeastern Idaho and kipukas, islands of sagebrush habitat isolated by relatively barren lava. In 1979 I counted the number of species of plants, small mammals, and reptiles for a series of kipukas. The degree of isolation of a kipuka was not related to numbers of species found there; thus, these data do not support equilibrium theory of island biogeography. For most of the study organisms lava is not a significant barrier to dispersal. Larger kipukas support larger numbers of species. For plants this relationship likely is a result of the increased topographic variety of larger kipukas, whereas for small mammal species minimum area requirements for maintaining populations are met only by larger kipukas. More distant kipukas showed increased density of small mammals, possibly as a result of reduced predation. Patterns of distribution in this ecosystem are best explained, not by any all-inclusive community mechanism, but through the agglomerative contributions of a variety of population and community functions.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Carter-Lovejoy, Steven
- Units
- CRMO
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Ecology, kipukas, Mammals, Plant Studies, Plants
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Subsurface Geologic Processes | Volcanic Features and Processes , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Shrubland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals