Description
areaFactor = (targetArea/knownArea)^exponent; predictedRichness = knownRichness*areaFactor.
Ecological growth and scaling models express a chosen relationship between population, area, body mass or occupied patches. Supplied rates and exponents are model assumptions; a finite step can leave the intended physical domain.
areaFactor = (targetArea/knownArea)^exponent; predictedRichness = knownRichness*areaFactor.
When to use this tool
Use Species Area Power One Scale Factor when checking one declared ecological growth or scaling term.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter knownArea, knownRichness, targetArea, exponent. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read areaFactor, predictedRichness. Use the output convention below.
Require positive knownArea and targetArea and nonnegative knownRichness. areaFactor = (targetArea/knownArea)^exponent; predictedRichness = knownRichness*areaFactor.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| knownArea | Known Area | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| knownRichness | Known Richness | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| targetArea | Target Area | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| exponent | Exponent | Required. Finite number. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| areaFactor | Area Factor | Required. Finite number. |
| predictedRichness | Predicted Richness | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"knownArea": 100,
"knownRichness": 20,
"targetArea": 400,
"exponent": 0.5
},
"output": {
"areaFactor": 2,
"predictedRichness": 40
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- The supplied exponent defines a power-law extrapolation. Fractional richness is returned without rounding, and habitat differences, sampling completeness and uncertainty are not modeled.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use validated parameters, appropriate time steps and suitable data to assess a real population or extrapolation.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Ecological Metabolism Body Mass Exponent Term
relativeMass = bodyMass/referenceMass; predictedRate = referenceRate*relativeMass^exponent.
- Ecological Effort Normalized Count
Normalize an explicit ecological count by compatible observed effort without correcting detectability.