Final answer:
A species-area curve is a graphical representation of how biodiversity increases with habitat size. The more area that is sampled or conserved, the greater the number of species that can be supported.
Step-by-step explanation:
A graph depicting the relationship between the size of a region and the biodiversity that it can support is called a species-area curve.
An increase in the habitat size typically leads to an increase in biodiversity, which is represented by this curve. The species-area curve illustrates how the cumulative number of species found increases with a larger area sampled. This has implications not only for understanding species distribution but also for conservation, as a reduction in habitat area can significantly decrease the number of species supported.
For instance, diminishing a habitat by 90% can lead to a drop in species richness by approximately 50%. Regions with a diversity of land uses or habitats tend to have higher biodiversity. The relationship drawn by the species-area curve has been supported by numerous studies across different taxa and regions, highlighting the importance of preserving extensive and varied habitats to ensure rich biodiversity.