MacArthur and Wilson found as distance from New Guinea ________ the number of bird species on Pacific Islands ________.
A) increases; decreases
B) increases; increases
C) decreases; decreases
D) increases; remains constant
E) Distance from New Guinea has no affect on the number of bird species.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

MacArthur and Wilson's theory of island biogeography suggests that the number of species on an island is determined by immigration and extinction rates. As distance from a source of colonizers (such as New Guinea) increases, immigration rates decrease and extinction rates increase, leading to a decrease in the number of species on the island. Therefore, as distance from New Guinea increases, the number of bird species on Pacific Islands decreases.

MacArthur and Wilson Found as Distance from New Guinea ________