island biogeography

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island biogeography The study of the distribution of plant and animal species on islands or in areas that are sufficiently isolated to resemble islands. Islands are numerous, and their biotas (see ISLAND BIOTAS) are often small enough to be quantified. Accordingly it has been possible to determine a relationship between area and species number, as an equilibrium between immigration and extinction (see EQUILIBRIUM THEORY; RESCUE EFFECT). This is the basis of island biogeography, and it also has great relevance to the continents, where plant and animal communities are effectively reduced to islands in a sea of cultivation or urbanization.

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