According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, the eventual number of species living on any island reflects ____.
A)moderate levels in both frequency and intensity of disturbances
B)the number of species that initially arrive just after the island formed
C)an equal abundance of both endemic species and exotic species
D)a balance between immigration of new species and extinction of established ones
E)greater rates of immigration of new species than extinction of established ones

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, the eventual number of species living on any island reflects a balance between immigration of new species and extinction of established ones. This is because as the number of species on an island increases, competition and resource utilization between species intensifies, leading to a higher rate of extinction. Meanwhile, as the distance of the island from potential source populations increases, immigration rates decrease. Thus, there will be a point at which immigration rates are equal to extinction rates, leading to a stable number of species on the island.

According to the Equilibrium Model of Island Biogeography, the Eventual