Oceanic Islands

• Ecological features - oceanic islands

  • Isolation and biodiversity (difficult for organisms to migrate to and colonise, ones that did colonise have unique niches and are mostly endemic)
  • Lack of mammal predators (extremely difficult for mammals to travel to the islands)
• Introduced species - rats, cats, goats etc.
• Importance - oceanic islands


  The high proportion of endemic species increases the possibility of the discovery of unique medicines or features that could be used in biomimetics
• Threats

  • Exploitation of species: some island species were heavily exploited to the point of extinction such as the Dodo bird
  • Introduced species: lack of mammal predators meant that indigenous species weren't adapted to survive the arrival of predator species on boats
  • Habitat change/destruction: Urban, agricultural and tourist developments have caused habitat destruction
  • Sea level rise
• Conservation efforts 


  Usually involve attempts to stop or reverse the damaging effects of human actions. By eradicating introduced predators they have conserved endemic species.