Abstract: In April, May, August, and October 2006, grid-based sampling method w
as adopted to investigate the diversity and abundance of arthropods on 50 island
s in the Thousand-island Lake, with the effects of island area, island altitude
, island shape, inter-island distance, and island-mainland distance on arthrop
od species richness analyzed. With the increase of island area, the richness of
total arthropod species and that of the arthropod species with high- and low-
dispersal ability all increased, and the relationships between island area and a
rthropod species richness corresponded to the classical island biogeography mode
l. The island area, island altitude, and island shape had comprehensive effects
on the arthropod species richness, while inter-island distance and island-main
land distance had less effects. The richness of total arthropod species had a
significant positive correlation with island altitude and island shape, that of
the arthropod species with high- dispersal ability was significantly positively
 correlated with island area and island altitude, while no significant relations
hip was observed between the richness of arthropod species with low-dispersal a
bility and the island characteristics.

Key words: arthropods, biodiversity, island landscape, species richness, island biogeography, Xiaoheishan Island, Gloiopeltis furcata, subbottom, Baardseth index, tidal level.