islands biogeography theory

The islands biogeography theory explains how the number of species on an island depends on two main factors: the island’s size and its distance from a mainland source of species. Larger islands tend to support more species because they offer more habitats and resources. Islands closer to the mainland are more easily reached by arriving species, leading to higher diversity. Conversely, smaller or more remote islands tend to have fewer species due to higher extinction rates and less frequent immigration, shaping the unique community of each island based on these balance factors.