Island, the general term for islands, refers to a naturally formed land area surrounded by water and exposed at high tide, which can maintain human habitation or their own economic life.
Objectively speaking, edible food, fresh water and living place are the main features of this island that can support human habitation. As long as these three basic conditions exist, we can think that this island can sustain human habitation, no matter how long it can last, no matter whether this habitation is temporary or permanent.
biological property
Island life presents extremely interesting features. The ocean is an obstacle for some creatures, but it is a carrier for others; Once settled in a new base, these creatures often evolve and develop new characteristics in an isolated environment.
The long-standing maritime barrier has caused significant differences in animals and vegetation even between adjacent islands; From this difference, we can infer the origin of the island.
In addition, any detailed map of global biological distribution can illustrate the importance of islands in determining the boundaries of animal and vegetation types. For example, west of a line (Wallace line) between Bali and Lombok and between Borneo and Celebes, the creatures on the island are Asians; To the east of that line, although the Lombok Strait is very narrow, the vegetation and animals are all Australian.
Ocean islands often have only a few animals, mainly seabirds and insects. There are often a lot of vegetation on the island, and plant seeds are brought to the island by wind and water or birds; However, plant species are limited.