USING SPECIES ABUNDANCE MODELS AS INDICATORS OF HABITAT DISTURBANCE IN TROPICAL FORESTS

1. In temperate communities, species abundance distributions have been used to detect ecosystem disturbance: in undisturbed habitats, distri butions are claimed to generally fit log-normal models, whereas in dis turbed habitats, distributions fit log-series models. 2. There is a gr owing literature on the effects of habitat disturbance in tropical eco systems and several studies suggest that species abundance models may be useful in detecting disturbance, although data are lacking. 3. Numm elin (1998) claims that these models are not universal indicators of f orest disturbance, but we highlight a number of problems with the data presented in Nummelin's study and conclude that it is too soon to dis miss these models. We discuss several important points arising from Nu mmelin's study which need to be considered if species abundance models are to be used appropriately.