In 1966, scientists wiped out almost every insect on tiny islands in Florida. Within days, wildlife began returning

Ecologists Daniel Simberloff and Edward O. Wilson conducted a groundbreaking experiment in 1966. They removed nearly all arthropods from tiny Florida Keys islands to observe nature's rebuilding process. Life returned rapidly, with species arriving through various dispersal methods. The islands eventually approached previous species richness, though with different inhabitants. This study powerfully supported the Theory of Island Biogeography and its dynamic equilibrium concept.