Having seen many wild birds on farmland in Costa Rica, however, Professor Daily wondered whether island biogeography applied to the real world.
For ease of understanding, island biogeography assumed an isolated ecosystem; however, the actual countryside ecosystem is within a biosphere inhabited by humans and influenced by human activities, which made it more complicated than the theory implied. Therefore, she thought, research on the countryside would require that we close the gap between theory and practice.
There is little-untouched nature remaining. Most of the areas on the earth, including tropical rainforest and oceans, are classified as countryside; and many species live in the countryside. Professor Daily believed that researching to protect such countryside would lead to the protection of many species. She decided, therefore, that this is what she should do.