The Dynamics of Abundance-Range Size Relationships

There is a general, positive, interspecific abundance-range size relationship. On the basis of this pattern it has been predicted that when the local abundance of species is reduced its regional distribution should decline, and vice versa (i.e. there is a positive intraspecific abundance-range size relationship). We test this prediction using data for North American breeding passerines. Whilst it is supported by a number of species, all combinations of increasing, decreasing and stable local abundances and distributional occurrence are observed, when one or other variable is declining.