Scale dependency and fractal dimension of rarity

Authors: Witte, Jan-Philip M.; Torfs, Paul J. J. F.

Source: Ecography, Volume 26, Number 1, February 2003 , pp. 60-68(9)

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Abstract:

The rarity of species in a country is usually determined by counting the number of grid cells occupied by those species on a geographical observation grid. In this paper, we present a measure of rarity that is less sensitive to the shape and size of a country. We demonstrate that the distribution of species on a national grid is not monofractal. Consequently, rarity figures cannot be scaled down to a finer grid merely using scale-area plots. We propose a downscaling method that takes into account the non-monofractal distribution of species. Rarity figures have often been published on a scale comprising a limited number of rarity classes. This article finally provides an insight into the degree of accuracy of such classes.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0587.2003.03248.x

Publication date: 2003-02-01