Nestedness pattern and the influence of geographical factors on Algerian island breeding birds

ABSTRACT

The relationship between the abundance of breeding birds on the studied islands and the topographic variables (surface and distance from the continent) was tested via data on the breeding birds of 11 islands in Algeria. A nestedness calculator program was used to study the nestedness of breeding birds. Islands’ surface conditions and their isolation explain clearly the richness of breeding birds. The distribution of island breeding birds showed a strong nested structure that differs significantly from the distribution of the random model.