Use the following figure to answer the question.

Based on the species-area plot in the figure, if habitable area on an island were reduced from 10,000 square kilometers (km²) to 1,000 km², roughly what percentage of the species would disappear?

Question

Use the following figure to answer the question.

Based on the species-area plot in the figure, if habitable area on an island were reduced from 10,000 square kilometers (km²) to 1,000 km², roughly what percentage of the species would disappear?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The species-area curve shows a logarithmic relationship between the size of the habitat and the number of species that can inhabit it, with diminishing returns as the area increases. According to the graph, reducing the habitable area from 10,000 km² to 1,000 km² would result in roughly a 30% loss of species diversity, as seen in the drop from roughly 80 species to 56 species. Therefore, the correct answer is choice C, 30 percent.

Use the Following Figure to Answer the Question