Biogeography: An Overview

The roots of biogeography can be traced back to the ancient period; however, as an independent explanation can be seen in the explorations of naturalists such as Charles Darwin, Alexander von Humboldt, and Alfred Russel Wallace. They traveled to remote corners of the world to observe and collect specimens of plants and animals. Their explorations and observations of the similarities and differences among species in different regions given way to the groundwork for understanding the relationships among living things and the environments in which they live.

Alexander von Humboldt, a German geographer and explorer, was usually honored as the father of phytobiogeography because he was the first one who conceptualized and quantified the primary role of climate in the distribution and forms of plants around the world.

What is the Meaning of Bio?

The prefix "bio" is taken from the Greek word "bios," which means life. However, in scientific terms, the prefix "bio" is often used to describe living organisms, specifically biology, or the study of life. The term is more commonly used in words like biochemistry, biogeography, biotechnology, biodiversity, biosphere, etc.

What is the Meaning of Biogeography?

Biogeography is one of the significant branches of geography that focuses on the study of the distribution of living organisms and their relationship to the physical and biological features of the environment. It is an interdisciplinary field that draws on insights from ecology, geology, climatology, environmental science, and other areas of science to understand the patterns and processes that shape the diversity of life on the Earth.

Likewise, biogeography encompasses a wide range of subjects, from the distribution of individual species to the formation and maintenance of entire ecosystems. It is concerned with an extensive understanding the mechanisms that underlie the patterns of biodiversity, as well as how those patterns have changed over time.

Nature of Biogeography

Biogeography does not involve only the study of geographical distribution of flora and fauna, but rather it is a science that synthesizes the concepts and information from various disciplines such as botany, zoology, geology, climatology, pedology, geomorphology as well, evolutionary biology, and ecology etc.

Likewise, the major topics those are discussed in biogeography are −

• How do different species come to inhabit in different regions of the world?

• What are the factors that determine the boundaries and characteristics of biotic regions?

• What are the mechanisms underlying the evolution and diversification of species in different geographic regions?

• How have environmental changes, such as climate change, weather fluctuation, and geological events, influenced the distribution of life on Earth?

• How can we use our knowledge of biogeography to inform and manage the conservation efforts to protect biodiversity?

And, to answer these questions, bio-geographers and other environmentalists use a variety of tools and methods, such as field survey and observations, experimental studies, biogeographic modeling, phylogenetic analyses, and historical reconstructions. They also draw on data from a range of sources, like fossils, genetics, morphology, and biogeographic patterns in modern species.

Branches and Scopes of Environmental Geography

Biogeography is an interdisciplinary branch of geography that encompasses a wide range of topics related to the distribution of living organisms and their relationships with their environment.

However, some of the key branches of biogeography include −

• Phytogeography (Plant Biogeography) − This branch of biogeography focuses on the study of plants communities as social groups in terms of their evolution, spatial presence, and temporal changes, dispersal and distribution patterns. It also focuses on the study of processes and causes of their spatial variations and ecological changes through time, their interactions with the environment of their habitats and responses coming there from etc.

• Zoogeography (Animal Geography − This branch of biogeography focuses on the study of animal communities of both land and marine habitats and environment in terms of speciation and evolution, dispersal, extinction and distribution patterns of animals. It also focuses on interactions of animals with environment, responses of animal communities, and various human activities etc.

• Pedology(Soil Geography) − This branch of biogeography focuses on the study of soils in their natural environment. Pedology deals with pedogenesis, soil morphology, and soil classification. The other branch of soil science i.e. edaphology focuses on the study of the way soils influence plants, fungi, and other living things

• Historical biogeography − This branch of biogeography focuses on the study of the historical factors that have shaped the distribution of life on Earth over time.

• Island biogeography − This branch of biogeography focuses on the study of the distribution of species on different islands. Interestingly, islands are more often considered as "natural laboratories" for studying biogeography because they are isolated from mainland populations and provide distinctive and pure opportunities for understanding the mechanisms of colonization, extinction, and diversification of species.

• Macroecology − This branch of biogeography focuses on the study of large-scale patterns in the distribution and abundance of species. This includes studying the factors that influence the diversity of species across different geographic regions along with their relationships with different environmental factors such as climate, topography, and habitat type.

• Conservation biogeography − This branch of biogeography focuses on the study of the application of biogeographic principles to the conservation and management of biodiversity. It includes studying the spatial patterns of biodiversity, identifying areas of high conservation value, and developing strategies for protecting endangered species and ecosystems in situ.

Likewise, by integrating insights from multiple fields of study, biogeographers can better understand the factors that shape the distribution and diversity of life on Earth, and develop strategies for conserving and managing biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.

Importance of Studying Biogeography

In today’s world, the study of biogeography is important for several reasons; however, significant of them are −

• Helps to understand the patterns of biodiversity − Biogeography helps people to understand the distribution and diversity of life on Earth. This knowledge is particularly important in the face of increasing threats to biodiversity, such as habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species.

• Helps in identifying and managing conservation − The knowledge of biogeography and the ecosystems and their biodiversity helps in developing effective conservation strategy. It helps in identifying areas of high conservation value and developing strategies for protecting endangered species and ecosystems.

• Helps in understanding the impacts of climate change − Biogeography also helps people to understand the future consequences of climate change. It also helps experts to predict how ecosystems and species will respond to climate change.

• Helps in understanding and building land-use planning − Biogeography can help inform land-use planning by identifying areas of high conservation value and determining the potential impacts of human activities, such as agriculture, urbanization, and resource extraction.

• Helps in understanding the evolution of life on Earth − By studying biogeographic patterns in the distribution of living organisms, we can better understand the history of life on Earth and the mechanisms that have driven its evolution.

Conclusion

Biogeography is a diversified and complex field of geography that spans many areas of science. Likewise, by integrating insights from multiple fields of study, bio-geographers can help us better understand the distribution and diversity of life on Earth, and develop strategies for conserving and managing biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the examples of Biogeography?

Biogeography is the study of the distribution of living organisms across different geographic regions and the factors that have influenced their distribution. Here are some examples of biogeography −

• Wallace's Line

• Continental Drift

• Island Biogeography

• Biodiversity Hotspots

• Climate Change

Why is the meaning of Wallace's Line?

The Wallace's Line, in reality, is an imaginary line that hypothetically runs through the Indonesian archipelago, separating the fauna of Asia and Australia. The name was named after the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who first observed the distinct differences in animal species between the two regions.

What is the meaning of biodiversity hotspots?

Biodiversity hotspots are geographic regions that highlight the high levels of biodiversity that are under threat, especially through human activities. These areas are important for conservation efforts as they contain many endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world.