| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.19 MB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
One of the aims of island biogeography theory is to explain the number of species in
an archipelago. Traditionally, the variables used to explain the species richness on an island are
its area and distance to the mainland. However, increasing evidence suggests that accounting for
other variables is essential for better estimates. In particular, the distance between islands should
play a role in determining species richness. This work uses a Bayesian framework using Gaussian
processes to assess whether distance to neighbouring islands (spatial autocorrelation) can better
explain arthropod species richness patterns in the Azores Archipelago and in the Canary Islands.
This method is flexible and allows the inclusion of other variables, such as maximum altitude above
sea level (elevation). The results show that accounting for spatial autocorrelation provides the best
results for both archipelagos, but overall, spatial autocorrelation seems to be more important in the
Canary archipelago. Similarly, elevation plays a more important role in determining species richness
in the Canary Islands. We recommend that spatial autocorrelation should always be considered when
modelling an archipelago’s species richness.
Description
Keywords
Azores biodiversity biogeography Canary Islands elevation Gaussian process island species–area relationship spatial autocorrelation
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Barros, D.D.; Mathias, M.d.L.; Borges, P.A.V.; Borda-de-Água, L. The Importance of Including Spatial Autocorrelation When Modelling Species Richness in Archipelagos: A Bayesian Approach. Diversity 2023, 15, 127.
Publisher
MDPI