biogeograafias

Biogeograafias, often rendered in English as biogeographies, is the branch of science that studies the spatial distribution of living organisms across geographic areas and through geological time. It seeks to explain why species occur where they do, how their distributions change, and how ecological and evolutionary processes generate patterns of biodiversity.

Historically, the field emerged from natural history observations by figures such as Humboldt and Wallace and was formalized in the 19th and 20th centuries. The fusion with plate tectonics and climate history in the late 20th century deepened explanations of vicariance and dispersal that shape present-day distributions. The discipline is commonly divided into historical biogeography, ecological biogeography, and conservation biogeography, with phylogeography linking genetic variation to geography.

Core concepts include vicariance and dispersal as mechanisms of distribution, endemism and biogeographic realms, and the species-area relationship. The island biogeography theory by MacArthur and Wilson (1967) remains influential for understanding how island size and isolation affect species richness. Modern biogeography also emphasizes anthropogenic change, climate change, and invasive species.

Methods combine field observations, fossil records, and contemporary data. Geographic information systems (GIS), species distribution modeling, and ecological niche theory support predictions of where organisms could occur. Molecular phylogeography uses genetic data to infer historical movements. Palaeobiogeography reconstructs past distributions using geology and fossils.

Applications include biodiversity conservation planning, reserve design, and assessing the impacts of climate change and habitat loss. Biogeography informs invasive species risk assessments, restoration strategies, and the management of biogeographic regions and biodiversity hotspots.