Biogeography

Biogeography refers to the distribution of various species and ecosystems geographically and over geological time and space. Biogeography is often studied in the context of ecological and historical factors that have shaped the geographical distribution of organisms over time. Specifically, species vary geographically according to latitude, habitat, segregation (e.g., islands) and elevation. Sub-disciplines of biogeography include zoogeography and phytogeography, which involve the distribution of animals and plants, respectively.

Types of biogeography

There are three main fields of biogeography: 1) historical, 2) ecological and 3) conservation biogeography. Each approaches species distributions from a different perspective. Historical biogeography primarily involves animal distributions from an evolutionary perspective. Historical biogeography studies involve the investigation of phylogenic distributions over time. Ecological biogeography refers to the study of factors that contribute to the global distribution of plant and animal species. Examples of ecological factors that are commonly studied include climate, habitat and primary productivity (the rate at which plants in a given area are able to reproduce at a given time). ecosystem in particularproducing net chemical energy). In addition, ecological biogeography differs from historical biogeography in that it involves the short-term distribution of various organisms, rather than long-term changes over evolutionary periods. Conservation biogeography seeks to manage effectively the current level of biodiversity worldwide by providing policy makers with data and potential concerns about the conservation biology.

How does biogeography support evolution?

Biogeography provides evidence of evolution through the comparison of similar species with minor differences that originated due to adaptations to their respective environments. Over time, the Earth’s continents have separated, drifted apart and collided, resulting in the creation of new climates and habitats. As species adapted to these conditions, the members of the same species that had diverged geographically diverge, resulting in the eventual formation of distinct species. This knowledge is important, because by understanding how adaptations occurred in response to changing environments in the past, we can apply this knowledge to the future.

Example: the Galapagos Islands

One of the most famous examples of biodiversity in support of evolution is Charles Darwin’s study of finches in the Galapagos Islands, which resulted in his book On the Origin of Species. Darwin noted that the finches on the mainland of South America were similar to those located on the Galapagos Islands; however, the shape of the notes differed according to the type of food available on each island. The islands had once been part of the South American mainland, but the two land masses were later separated and split apart.

The result was the creation of new habitats and food sources available to the species residing in each of these regions. Thus, each finch species had adapted to the local environment by selecting alleles that promoted survival, which ultimately resulted in speciation. Islands are excellent for the study of biogeography because they consist of small ecosystems that can be easily compared with those of the mainland and other nearby regions. In addition, because they are an isolated region, invasive species and the associated consequences for other organisms within the ecosystem can be easily studied. By studying these changes over time, the evolution of different species and ecosystems becomes evident.