Final answer:
The theory of island biogeography, developed by MacArthur and Wilson, explains how species richness is a balance between immigration and extinction. Applied to terrestrial habitats, habitat fragments act as 'islands' suggesting that larger preserves and wildlife corridors are crucial for maintaining biodiversity in the face of habitat fragmentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Theory of Island Biogeography Applied to Terrestrial Habitats
The theory of island biogeography, initially developed by Robert H. MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson, is foundational for understanding biodiversity dynamics on islands. The key concept is that the number of species is determined by a balance between immigration, or colonization, and extinction rates. When applying this theory to terrestrial habitats, habitat fragments are seen as "islands" within a "sea" of developed or altered landscapes. Conservation design principles based on this theory suggest that larger preserves are more effective for maintaining biodiversity because they support a greater number of species, provide a variety of niches, and have a larger core area of optimal habitat. Moreover, these preserves are more easily located and reached by species dispersing from other areas. This balance is essential in the context of habitat fragmentation, where development leads to the isolation of pockets of natural habitat. Optimal preserve designs also suggest the use of wildlife corridors connecting smaller preserves to allow for the movement of species and genetic exchange.
Consequently, when creating conservation preserves, understanding the influence of patch size, isolation, and the surrounding matrix becomes vital for land management and biodiversity conservation strategies. The original island biogeography model, though framed for actual islands, provides a powerful conceptual framework that can be extended to guide the creation and management of protected areas on mainland regions to promote ecological stability and diversity.