Biogeography

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Biogeography

Biogeography (pronunciation: /ˌbaɪoʊdʒiˈɒɡrəfi/) is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area.

Etymology

The term "biogeography" is derived from the Greek words "bios" meaning life, "geo" meaning earth, and "graphy" meaning to write. Thus, biogeography can be translated as the writing or study of life on earth.

Related Terms

  • Ecology: The scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms.
  • Geography: The study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.
  • Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
  • Evolution: The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
  • Endemism: The ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type.
  • Zoogeography: The branch of the science of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution (present and past) of animal species.
  • Phytogeography: The branch of biogeography that studies the distribution of plants.

See Also

External links

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