"Insular biogeography or island biogeography is a field within biogeography that examines the factors that affect the species richness and diversification of isolated natural communities."
The study of the distribution and evolution of species on islands.
Introduction to Biogeography: Biogeography is the study of the distribution of living organisms and the processes responsible for their spatial patterns.
Island Biogeography Theory: The theory of island biogeography was developed to explain the patterns of species diversity on islands.
Island Formation: The formation of islands can occur through volcanic activity, tectonic activity, or erosion.
Island Size and Distance: The size and distance of an island can influence the number of species that inhabit it.
Island Habitat Diversity: The diversity of habitats on an island can influence the number of species that inhabit it.
Island Colonization and Extinction: The patterns of colonization and extinction on islands can be affected by a variety of factors, such as the availability of resources and the presence of predators.
Species-Area Relationship: The theory of island biogeography is based on the concept of the species-area relationship, which describes the relationship between the size of an area and the number of species that inhabit it.
Species Equilibrium: As predicted by the theory of island biogeography, the number of species on an island often reaches a state of equilibrium, where the rate of colonization is equal to the rate of extinction.
Island Biogeography and Conservation: The insights provided by island biogeography can be used to inform conservation strategies for islands and other isolated habitats.
Island Biogeography and Evolution: The study of island biogeography can shed light on the evolutionary processes that have shaped the diversity of life on Earth.
Oceanic islands: These are islands that are formed by volcanic activity or coral reefs in the middle of an ocean far away from any mainland. They are often characterized by unique flora and fauna that have evolved in isolation.
Continental islands: These are islands that were once part of a continent but were separated due to tectonic or sea-level changes. They share a similar biota with the adjacent mainland.
Fragmented islands: These are islands that were once connected to each other or to a mainland but are now separated due to geological changes. They often have different biotas on each fragment and can be used to study the effects of isolation and fragmentation on biotic diversity.
Ecological islands: These are habitats that are isolated from each other within a larger ecosystem, such as a mountaintop or a forest edge. They can be used to study the effects of distance and barrier effects on species diversity.
Evolutionary islands: These are islands that have undergone rapid or dramatic changes in their geology or climate that have led to the rapid evolution of new species or the extinction of old ones. They provide insights into the mechanisms of speciation and adaptation in island organisms.
"The theory was originally developed to explain the pattern of the species–area relationship occurring in oceanic islands."
"...it is now used in reference to any ecosystem (present or past) that is isolated due to being surrounded by unlike ecosystems, and has been extended to mountain peaks, seamounts, oases, fragmented forests, and even natural habitats isolated by human land development."
"The field was started in the 1960s by the ecologists Robert H. MacArthur and E. O. Wilson."
"...who coined the term island biogeography in their inaugural contribution to Princeton's Monograph in Population Biology series..."
"...which attempted to predict the number of species that would exist on a newly created island."
"...examines the factors that affect the species richness and diversification of isolated natural communities."
"...even natural habitats isolated by human land development."
"...that examines the factors that affect the species richness and diversification of isolated natural communities."
"...a field within biogeography..."
"...oceanic islands... mountain peaks, seamounts, oases, fragmented forests..."
"...to predict the number of species that would exist on a newly created island."
"The field was started in the 1960s..."
"The ecologists Robert H. MacArthur and E. O. Wilson..."
"...the factors that affect the species richness and diversification of isolated natural communities."
"The theory was originally developed to explain the pattern of the species–area relationship occurring in oceanic islands."
"...has been extended to mountain peaks, seamounts, oases, fragmented forests, and even natural habitats isolated by human land development."
"...their inaugural contribution to Princeton's Monograph in Population Biology series..."
"...the species richness and diversification of isolated natural communities."
"...the factors that affect the species richness and diversification of isolated natural communities."