species richness
In this study, it was expected that the correlation between species richness (resident population) and the immigration and extinction rate of prairie plants contribute to the understanding of what factors affect plant populations in a community. Over an eight-year period, the number plant species across 19 sites in tall grass prairies was counted and the mean rate of species immigration and the extinction was determined at ten different levels of species richness. Standard deviation of the results was calculated and two independent t-test (assuming unequal variances) values were obtained. Results depicted that the mean rate of immigration was insignificant to species richness, meaning there was no relationship between the two variables, while the mean rate of extinction significantly correlated to species richness in a positive relationship. Factors such as immigration potential and invasion resistance help explain immigration rates. The resultant extinction rate can be explained by many factors like plant competition and litter removal. Ecology is an examination of the causal relationship among organisms and their environment. Organisms undergo distinctive processes that will tend to favour biodive
Species richness seemed to have no correlation with the mean rate of immigration, but a positive correlation with the mean rate of extinction in prairie plants. Biodiversity, productivity and stability in real food webs. Researches show that ecosystems under certain abiotic stressor with higher species richness tend to maintain ecological stability versus those ecosystems with little diversity (Worm and Duffy 2003). Different species of plants have different immigration potentials and abilities to disperse propagules through water, wind and animals (Campbell et al 2003). Conservation implications of the link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The mean rate of species immigration is independent of species richness. DiscussionThe concept of increasing species richness (resident population) may be a factor in affecting the mean rates of immigration and extinction in tallgrass population. The relationship between number of species and the mean rate of species extinction of the tall grass community is shown in Figure 2. The mean rate of species extinction, on the contrary to the rate of immigration, is a factor of species richness.
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Dzwonko Gawronski,
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Rochefort Lavoie,
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