According to the theory of seafloor spreading, oceanic islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands, form as oceanic crustal plates move over a stationary "hot spot" in the mantle. Currently, the big island of Hawaii is thought to be over a hot spot, which is why it is the only one of the seven large islands that has active volcanoes. What should be true of the island of Hawaii?
I. Scientists in search of ongoing speciation events are more likely to find them here than on the other six large islands.
II. Its species should be more closely related to those of nearer islands than to those of further islands.
III. It should have a rich fossil record of terrestrial organisms.
IV. It should have species that are not found anywhere else on Earth.
V. On average, it should have fewer species per-unit surface area than the other six islands.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

I is true because volcanic activity creates new habitats for species to colonize and diversify. 
II is true because species on the big island are more likely to have originated from nearby islands that were colonized earlier. 
IV is true because the isolation of the hot spot can lead to the evolution of unique species. 
V is true because the larger size of the island allows for more diverse habitats and thus a higher number of species per-unit surface area compared to smaller islands. III is not necessarily true because the island is relatively young and has been dominated by volcanic activity, making it less likely to have a rich fossil record of terrestrial organisms.

According to the Theory of Seafloor Spreading, Oceanic Islands, Such