So Huge A Bignes Summary and Analysis

In the third chapter, Quammen introduces what he calls an "insular menu" of attributes that appear to be common to species that live on islands. He divides the list of attributes into those that apply to individual species and those that apply to island communities as a whole. The species attributes are as follows:

Dispersal ability

Size change

Loss of dispersal ability

Endemism

Relictualism

Loss of defensive adaptations

Archipelago speciation

Adaptive radiation

The community attributes he calls disharmony and impoverishment.

Quammen writes in a disjointed style, moving from subject to subject and returning to previous topics frequently. He addresses these attributes over the course of the chapter, interjecting personal stories about his travels to conduct research for the book and introducing scientists who are studying these various attributes of island biogeography.

Dispersal ability is the...