Question

Explain how this statement supports evolution by natural selection rather than creationism or intelligent design?

The total number of species on oceanic islands is small compared to the number of an equal area of continents.

Answer 1

The oceanic island is the land mass separated from the main land or land mass by the ocean. The mainland animals migrates to this land or some other ways they come to that fragmented land, but then arise the limiting factors are limitations like,

1) Availability of food

2) Space

3) Extreme conditions

4) some fundamental resources etc

so the food availability is a major limiting factor in the oceanic island, the competition is very much so that they have to thrive for the food. The other factors like availability of space also a limiting factors, which is comparatively less in the main land.

because of these limiting factors, the oceanic islands has the limiting species which are selected by the nature to live in that island. The species which have the fitness and ability to thrive these conditions will be present.