The Theory of Island Biogeography is a 1967 book by Edward O. Wilson and Robert MacArthur which laid the foundations for the study of island biogeography.An edition with a new preface by Edward O. Wilson was published in 2001 (ISBN 0691088365).he Theory of Island Biogeography. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Theory of Island Biogeography is a 1967 book by Edward O. Wilson and Robert MacArthur which laid the foundations for the study of island biogeography. An edition with a new preface by Edward O. Wilson was published in 2001 (ISBN 0691088365).