The Theory of Island Biogeography / / Edward O. Wilson, Robert H. MacArthur.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Princeton University Press eBook-Package Backlist 2000-2013
• VerfasserIn: MacArthur, Robert H.,; Wilson, Edward O.,
• Place / Publishing House: Princeton, NJ : : Princeton University Press, , [2016]; ©2001
• Year of Publication: 2016
• Edition: With a New preface by Edward O. Wilson
• Language: English
• Series: Princeton Landmarks in Biology
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (224 p.)

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.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition -- Preface -- Symbols Used -- CHAPTER ONE. The Importance of Islands -- CHAPTER TWO. Area and Number of Species -- CHAPTER THREE. Further Explanations of the Area-Diversity Pattern -- CHAPTER FOUR. The Strategy of Colonization -- CHAPTER FIVE. Invasibility and the Variable Niche -- CHAPTER SIX. Stepping Stones and Biotic Exchange -- CHAPTER SEVEN. Evolutionary Changes Following Colonization -- CHAPTER EIGHT. Prospect -- Glossary -- References -- Index