Biogeographie

Biogeographie, in English biogeography, is the study of the spatial distribution of organisms across Earth and the historical and ecological processes that shape these patterns. It integrates biology, geography, geology, climatology and ecology to explain where species live, why they occur in particular regions, and how distributions change over time. Researchers address patterns at local, regional and global scales, and consider both contemporary distributions and their historical origins.

Two main strands are historical biogeography, which reconstructs past distributions using fossil data, plate tectonics, climate change and dispersal events, and ecological biogeography, which examines the relationships between organisms and their environments in the present day. A classical topic is island biogeography, which explains how island size, isolation and age influence species richness and endemism. Phylogeography adds a genetic perspective by tracing lineages across geography to infer historical movements and population structure.

Methods include field surveys, fossil records, climatic and geological data, geographic information systems (GIS), species distribution modeling, and molecular phylogenetics. Biogeography also uses bioregional classifications and the concept of biomes to describe broad ecological patterns.

Applications of biogeography include informing conservation planning, identifying areas of high biodiversity and endemism, predicting responses to climate change, assessing invasion risks, and guiding habitat restoration and protected-area network design. The field contributes to understanding biogeographical regions and the history of life on Earth.