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 a 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]