Distribution and Abundance

Question 1

What is the big Question?

Answer 1

are species with large geographic ranges any more or less abundant than species with small geographic ranges?

• ex. distribution of Great Blue Herons follow wetlands.
  -e x . Tetraphis moss clumps on individual trees.

Question 2

general pattern emerges

Answer 2

most species within a group have small geographic ranges. only a few have very large ranges.

• ex. based on 1370 species of North American Birds, most exhibit small range sizes (to the left).
• ex. 1499 species of vascular plants in Britain show a similar pattern.