The Theory of Island Biogeography (Princeton Landmarks in Biology)
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: April 1, 2001
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 220
ISBN-13: 9780691088365
Subjects: Biogeography; Ecological science, the Biosphere; Life Sciences - Ecology; Ecology; Science; Science/Mathematics; Life Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems; Earth Sciences - Geography; Life Sciences - Biology - General; Biological Sciences; Science / Biology; Island ecology
First sentence: "The Zoology of Archipelagoes," Charles Darwin wrote at an early moment in his career, "will be well worth examination."
Description: "Biogeography was stuck in a "natural history phase" dominated by the collection of data, the young Princeton biologists Robert H. MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson argued in 1967. In this book, the authors developed a general theory to explain the facts of island biogeography. The theory builds on the first principles of population ecology and genetics to explain how distance and area combine to regulate the balance between immigration and extinction in island populations. The authors then test the theory against data.".

"The Theory of Island Biogeography was never intended as the last word on the subject. Instead, MacArthur and Wilson sought to stimulate "new forms of theoretical and empirical studies, which will lead in turn to a stronger general theory." Even a third of a century since its publication, the book continues to serve that purpose well. From popular books like David Quammen's Song of the Dodo to arguments in the professional literature. The Theory of Island Biogeography remains at the center of discussions about the geographic distribution of species. In a new preface, Edward O. Wilson reviews the origins and consequences of this classic book."--BOOK JACKET.