Jb. Wilson et al., A TEST OF THE HUMPED-BACK THEORY OF SPECIES RICHNESS IN NEW-ZEALAND NATIVE FOREST, New Zealand journal of ecology, 20(2), 1996, pp. 173-177
The Humped-back theory of plant species richness, a theory related to
Grime's C-S-R 'triangular' model, has been widely discussed, and some
evidence has been claimed in support of it. The theory suggests that s
pecies richness is maximal at intermediate levels of productivity, i.e
., at intermediate positions on a stress/favourability gradient. We so
ught evidence for the theory from 90 stands of native podocarp/broadle
aved and beech forest in the Coastal Otago region, with an adjustment
made for the effect of stand area on species richness. There was no re
lation between adjusted species richness and an index of site stress/f
avourability, i.e., no support for the Humped-back theory. The theory
may be inapplicable to woody vegetation, or it may be applicable only
when the 'favourable' end of the spectrum comprises agricultural commu
nities, or support for the theory might be inflated in the literature
by a wish to find ecological generalisations.