Colonisation is the process in biology by which a species spreads into new areas. The term can be used to describe colonisation on a small scale (i.e. where a species moves into new areas at a particular site, perhaps as a result of a change in conditions) or on a large scale (i.e. where a species expands it range to encompass new areas; here, the term range expansion is often used). The term is generally only used to refer to the spread into new areas by natural means as opposed to introduction by human agency.
Colonization and extinction are the key components of island biogeography, a theory that has many applications for ecology because it is an applicable theory to analysis of metapopulations.
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Species events
Some large-scale notable colonisation events in the 20th Century are listed below.
Birds
- the colonisation of the New World by the Cattle Egret
- the westwards spread of the Collared Dove across Europe
- the colonisation of Britain by the Little Egret
- the colonisation of the East coast of North America by the Brewer's Blackbird
Dragonflies
- the colonisation of Britain by the Small Red-eyed Damselfly
Moths
- the colonisation of Britain by Blair's Shoulder-knot
See also
External links
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