Final answer:
Islands in the theory of island biogeography can be created through urbanization and agricultural fragmentation, affecting biodiversity and cultural landscapes. Urbanization leads to human dependency on global systems, cultural changes, and environmental pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The “Islands” in this theory do not just relate to land surrounded by water. Islands can be created through urbanization and agricultural fragmentation. In the context of the theory of island biogeography, as societies industrialize and urbanize, rural regions often become fragmented like islands within a sea of developed or altered land, leading to a dynamic balance between species colonization and extinction rates.
This is particularly because these “islands” of habitat are isolated from each other by urban areas, agricultural fields, or other human developments, thus affecting biodiversity.
Originally, islands were economically self-sufficient through activities such as fishing and agriculture. Over time, however, modern technologies and increasing populations have led to a dependency on global economic systems. This shift often pulls individuals toward urban centers in search of employment, away from traditional farming, and contributes to the cultural changes and environmental pressures on both land-based and true islands.
As the human cultural landscape becomes more diverse, industrialism interacts with local culture, producing distinctive versions of modernity shaped by forces like urbanization. The isolation of islands, be they real or ecological such as highland areas, has historically fostered unique environmental conditions that contribute to the evolution of specific traditions and biological diversity.