The Theory of Island Biogeography

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The Theory of Island Biogeography is a foundational ecological work that explains how species richness on islands is shaped by the balance between immigration and extinction, profoundly influencing modern conservation biology and biogeography.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf book
ecological theory
scientific theory
appliedTo habitat fragments
mountaintop habitats
nature reserves
oceanic islands
urban habitat patches
assumes mainland species pool as source of colonists
species are ecologically similar in the basic model
stochastic colonization and extinction events
author Edward O. Wilson
Robert H. MacArthur
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: "United States"
criticizedFor neglecting evolutionary processes in its basic form
simplifying species differences
field biogeography
conservation biology
ecology
hasEdition Princeton Landmarks in Biology edition
hasModelType equilibrium model
impact became a cornerstone of modern biogeography
inspired empirical tests on islands and habitat fragments
provided a quantitative framework for understanding island species richness
shaped modern reserve design strategies
influencedField conservation biology
landscape ecology
metapopulation theory
reserve design
language English
mainConcept equilibrium number of species
immigration–extinction balance
island size effect
isolation effect
species richness on islands
species–area relationship
turnover of species
proposes extinction rates increase as the number of resident species increases
immigration rates decline as the number of resident species increases
larger islands support more species than smaller islands
more isolated islands receive fewer colonists than less isolated islands
species richness on islands is determined by a dynamic balance between immigration and extinction
publicationYear 1967
publisher Princeton University Press
relatedConcept SLOSS debate
equilibrium theory of biogeography
species–area curve

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Edward O. Wilson coAuthoredWork The Theory of Island Biogeography
SLOSS debate influencedBy The Theory of Island Biogeography
this entity surface form: "MacArthur–Wilson island biogeography theory"
Robert H. MacArthur notableIdea The Theory of Island Biogeography
this entity surface form: "equilibrium theory of island biogeography"
Robert H. MacArthur notableWork The Theory of Island Biogeography
Robert Helmer MacArthur notableWork The Theory of Island Biogeography
Princeton Landmarks in Biology edition titleOf The Theory of Island Biogeography

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