Species-area relation: The number of species of a given taxonomic group within a given habitat (often an island) is a function of the area of the habitat. For islands in the West Indies, the formula...

Species-area relation: The number of species of a given taxonomic group within a given habitat (often an island) is a function of the area of the habitat. For islands in the West Indies, the formula

approximates the number S of species of amphibians and reptiles on an island in terms of the island area A in square miles. This is an example of a species-area relation.

a. Make a table giving the value of S for islands ranging in area from 4000 to 40,000 square miles.

b. Explain in practical terms what S(4000) means and calculate that value.

c. Use functional notation to express the number of species on an island whose area is 8000 square miles, and then calculate that value.

d. Would you expect a graph of S to be concave up or concave down?