The Number of Breeding Landbird Species on British Islands

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Abstract
Factors affecting the number of landbird species to have bred on a sample of islands around Britain [UK] are examined. The number of habitats on an island is the best predictor of species number. Area is the 2nd best predictor of species number. Distance to the mainland is inversely correlated with species number if adjusted for habitat and area. The islands around Britain exhibit isolation effects. Irish islands are best viewed with their colonization pool being Britain rather than Ireland. Endemic subspecies occur in the island groups furthest from the mainland. Small islands tend to have small amounts of a variety of habitat types. These will be too small to support a species pair until area increases beyond a species-specific threshold size.