Considerations Regarding the Evolution of Hawaiian Animals

Abstract

Interest in biotas of oceanic islands is of long standing. There are several reasons for the continuing interest. One is the possibility that insular evolution may in some respects represent a small-scale model of what has occurred on continents. Another is that, despite all the work on the subject, the "hows" and the "whys" of insular evolution remain inadequately answered. Finally, there is the realization that, with the rapid decimation of native insular habitats, it will soon be impossible to study many aspects of the subject (Hubbell, 1967).