Class 12 Botany simulations · Biodiversity and Conservation

Species–area relationship

Explore larger and larger areas and count species. On log–log axes the relationship is a straight line.

Open the simulation

What to notice

Z is typically 0.1–0.2 for regions; for very large areas such as whole continents it is much steeper (0.6–1.2).

Key relation

log S = log C + Z log A

Try this

Double the area with Z = 0.2. By what factor do species increase?

What you can change

• Area (log₁₀ km²): 0 to 7
• Slope Z: 0.1 to 1.2
• Constant C (species at 1 km²): 5 to 100

More in Biodiversity and Conservation

• Latitudinal gradient in diversity

See all Class 12 Botany simulations or every Physica simulation.