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The theory of island biogeography

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Princeton University Press, 1967 - Science - 203 pages

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.

  

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Review: Theory of Island Biogeography

User Review  - John - Goodreads

Originally published as part of the Princeton University Press' Monographs in Population Biology series, Robert MacArthur's and Edward O. Wilson's "Theory Of Island Biogeography" is regarded by many ... Read full review

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Contents

The Importance of Islands
3
Further Explanations of
19
The Strategy of Colonization
68
Invasibility and the Variable Niche
94
Stepping Stones and Biotic Exchange
123
Evolutionary Changes Following Colonization
145
Prospect
181
Copyright

Other editions - View all

The Theory of Island Biogeography
The Theory of Island Biogeography
Robert H. MacArthur,Edward Osborne Wilson
Limited preview - 1967
The theory of island biogeography
The theory of island biogeography
Robert H. MacArthur,Edward O. Wilson
Snippet view - 1967
The Theory of Island Biogeography
The Theory of Island Biogeography
Robert H. MacArthur,Edward Osborne Wilson
No preview available - 1967
View all »

Common terms and phrases

absolute number abundance adaptive adaptive radiation alleles archipelagos bananaquit biotas bird species Chapter character displacement colonization curve colonizing species competition competitors decrease density dependent dispersal power displacement Dry Tortugas ecological effect environment Equation equilibrial equilibrium model evolution evolutionary expanding species exponential extinction curves extinction rate Figure fine-grained founder effect genetic genotypes genus go extinct Guinea habitat Hence immigration and extinction immigration curve immigration rate increase insects insular island area Island Biogeography Krakatau MacArthur mainland marginal habitats mean dispersal distance measure Melanesia normally distributed number of individuals number of propagules number of species occur octaves parameters patches phenotypes plants predator predicted prezygotic probability propagules recipient island reduced relation relative reproductive value result Ruth Patrick saturation small islands source island source region Species Curve species diversity species numbers species pool stepping stones survival taxa taxon theory tion turnover variance vertebrates Wallis Islands Wilson z-year-old

References to this book

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References from web pages

JSTOR: The Theory of Island Biogeography
No matter which way you go, I recommend reading the "Theory of Island Biogeography." It may irritate or sooth, but you should be stimulated. ...
links.jstor.org/ sici?sici=0022-541X(196910)33%3A4%3C1046%3ATTOIB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-V

harvardscience
In a book titled “The Theory of Island Biogeography,” they provided a theoretical framework to explain the variation biologists found in the numbers of ...
harvardscience.harvard.edu/ print/ 7567

island biogeography: Definition and Much More from Answers.com
The theory of island biogeography holds that the number of species found on an island (the equilibrium number) is determined by two factors, the effect of ...
www.answers.com/ topic/ island-biogeography

The Theory of Island Biogeography. Robert H. macarthur and Edward ...
Jump to: Page Content, Section Navigation, Site Navigation, Site Search, Account Information, or Site Tools. Note to users. If you're seeing this message, ...
www.sciencemag.org/ cgi/ reprint/ 159/ 3810/ 71

Life in equilibrium - Edward O. Wilson and Robert H. macarthur's ...
In 1967 Princeton University Press published a small, dense, eye-crossingly mathematical book, The Theory of Island Biogeography, by Robert H. macarthur and ...
findarticles.com/ p/ articles/ mi_m1511/ is_/ ai_18047703

macarthur, rh and eo Wilson (1967, reprinted 2001). The Theory of ...
%22. 5(9,(:. 0DF$UWKXU 5 + DQG ( 2 :LOVRQ UHSULQWHG 7KH 7KHRU\ RI ,VODQG. %LRJHRJUDSK\ ;9 SS 3ULQFHWRQ 8QLYHUVLW\ 3UHVV ,6%1 SEN ...
www.springerlink.com/ index/ 665UG58JU4UAW71U.pdf

Blackwell Synergy - J Biogeography, Volume 28 Issue 11-12 Page ...
The theory of island biogeography is not only a citation classic but it is also an important foundational monograph for much recent biogeography, ...
www.blackwell-synergy.com/ doi/ abs/ 10.1046/ j.1365-2699.2001.0629a.x

NHBS - The Theory of Island Biogeography - R macarthur and EO Wilson
The Theory of Island Biogeography, R macarthur and EO Wilson, macarthur & Wilson's great 1967 classic, with a new preface by Wilson, NHBS Evironment ...
www.nhbs.com/ the_theory_of_island_biogeography_tefno_33562.html

citeulike: The theory of island biogeography
TY - BOOK ID - citeulike:730661 TI - The theory of island biogeography AD - Princeton & Oxford, USA PB - Princeton University Press KW - biogeography KW ...
www.citeulike.org/ group/ 344/ article/ 730661

Par Pharmaceutical Inc :: Brand Name and Generic Drug Maker
The Theory of Island Biogeography (Princeton Landmarks in Biology) .... The Theory of Island Biogeography was never intended as the last word on the subject ...
www.onlinedrugtest.info/ companies/ par-pharmaceutical-inc-brand-name-and-generic-drug-maker.html

About the author (1967)

Robert H. MacArthur (1930-1972) was Professor of Biology at Princeton University.

He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1929. He is currently Pellegrino University Research Professor & Honorary Curator in Entomology of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. He is on the Board of Directors of the Nature Conservancy, Conservation International & the American Museum of Natural History. He lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Bibliographic information

QR code for The theory of island biogeography
TitleThe theory of island biogeography
Landmarks in Biology Series
Volume 1 of Monographs in Population Biology
Princeton landmarks in biology
The Theory of Island Biogeography, Princeton University Press
AuthorRobert Helmer MacArthur
EditorEdward O Wilson
ContributorEdward O Wilson
Edition13, illustrated, reprint
PublisherPrinceton University Press, 1967
ISBN0691088365, 9780691088365
Length203 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Science / Life Sciences / Biology
Science / Life Sciences / Ecology
  
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