Biodiversity on Oceanic Islands: Its Origin and Extinction1

摘要: SYNOPSIS. The isolation and small size of oceanic islands make them attractive models for studies diversification; the sensitivity their biota makes important subjects extinction. I explore origin island biotas through dispersal in situ diversification, examine fate these since human contact. Island start out depauperate disharmonic, facilitating survival relict taxa stimulating adaptive radiations. often highly restricted range population insular species, together with limited diversity defenses, particularly vulnerable to extinction, largely habitat loss or interactions introduced species.