The species-area relation II. A second model for continuous sampling

Summary A second mathematical model describing the species-area relation was proposed for continuous expanding of sample area. This model is expressed asS=λ ln(1+x/E) whereS is the number of species occurring in an areax, and λ andE are the constants termedspecific diversity andelemental area respectively. As a result of testing the validity of the model for several sets of data, it was shown that the above equation would provide an adequate fit to a group of species belonging to a single synusia which exists in an open habitat. The ecological implications of parameters involved were discussed and the characteristic area presented previously (Kobayashi, 1974) was defined in terms ofE. The relation between results obtained by discrete sampling and continuous sampling was examined and the possibility of converting one to another was suggested. Contribution from the Laboratory of Applied Zoology, Yamagata University, No. 79.