Estimating species-area relationships from plot to landscape scale using species spatial-turnover data

Vegetation census data from montane meadow plots are used to test a predict ed connection between the species-area relationship, S = cA(z), and the dep endence of interpatch species turnover on patch area A, interpatch distance D, and the species-area exponent z. At small spatial scales, from D approx imate to 1-10 m, where species-area parameters can be independently estimat ed, the prediction is confirmed; at larger scales, from D approximate to 1- 10(4) m, the scale-dependence of z is deduced. A predicted dependence of sp ecies richness on the shape of censused patches is also confirmed. Our resu lts indicate that readily obtainable species-turnover data between distant small patches can be used to estimate species-area exponents at landscape s cales where census data for nested areas are generally not available, there by improving our ability to estimate landscape-scale species richness and r arity.