zoogeographical

Zoogeographical, relating to zoogeography, concerns the geographic distribution of animal life. Zoogeography is the branch of biogeography that seeks to explain why animal species and communities occur where they do, how regional faunas are formed, and how distributions have changed through time. The field combines data from the fossil record, comparative anatomy, molecular phylogenetics, climate history, and geology to uncover historical connections and contemporary patterns.

Key concepts include patterns of distribution such as cosmopolitan, endemic, and disjunct ranges; and the processes of vicariance (geographic splitting) and dispersal (range expansion). The idea of biogeographic realms or regions groups fauna by geography; classic schemes include Nearctic, Neotropical, Palearctic, Afrotropical, Indomalayan, and Australasian, with some classifications also recognizing Antarctic or Oceanian realms. Historical events such as plate tectonics, climate change, and barriers like mountains and oceans have shaped faunal distributions. Notable examples include the distinct Australian fauna due to prolonged isolation, and the interchange of North and South American faunas after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama.

Methods include comparisons of fossil and living species, molecular phylogenetics, biogeographic reconstruction, and species distribution modeling. Zoogeography informs questions about patterns of biodiversity, endemism, and turnover, and it has practical applications in conservation planning, ecosystem management, and predicting how animal distributions may respond to climate change and habitat alteration.