According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, species richness would be greatest on an island that is
A) large and close to a mainland.
B) large and remote.
C) small and remote.
D) small and close to a mainland.
E) environmentally homogeneous.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, species richness on an island is determined by the balance between immigration and extinction rates. Larger islands have a higher immigration rate because they are easier to find and colonize for new species. Islands that are closer to a mainland also have a higher immigration rate because they are more likely to be colonized from a nearby source. Therefore, the combination of large size and proximity to a mainland would result in the greatest species richness.

According to the Equilibrium Model of Island Biogeography, Species Richness