title: Estimation of species extinction: what are the consequences when total species number is unknown?
abstract: The species-area relationship (SAR) is known to overestimate species extinction but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear to a great extent. Here, I show that when total species number in an area is unknown, the SAR model exaggerates the estimation of species extinction. It is proposed that to accurately estimate species extinction caused by habitat destruction, one of the principal prerequisites is to accurately total the species numbers presented in the whole study area. One can better evaluate and compare alternative theoretical SAR models on the accurate estimation of species loss only when the exact total species number for the whole area is clear. This presents an opportunity for ecologists to simulate more research on accurately estimating Whittaker's gamma diversity for the purpose of better predicting species loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2H1, Canada, haydi@126.com.
authors.forename: Youhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011156:Population Density; D011158:Population Growth; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*
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