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biogeography

biogeography

1 7.4
The study of where plants and animals live and why
  • noun
  • /ˌbaɪoʊdʒiˈɒɡrəfi/
  • Specialized
: biogeografía
  • The study of biogeography helps scientists understand how species are distributed across different regions of the world.
  • island biogeography
  • biogeography and ecology
  • biogeography and conservation

Examples

  • The cycle suggests that the biogeography of the West Indies is far more dynamic and changeable than ecologists had previously suspected.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Formation and biogeography of tropical peat swamps

    Academic text (2011)
  • It's one of the first laws of island biogeography.

  • OK, next time is island biogeography and metapopulations.

  • The need for a comprehensive, detailed, and globally consistent marine biogeography has been recognized for many years in marine conservation.

    Academic text (2007)
  • An island ecology hike introduces students to the concepts of island formation, island biogeography, and island populations.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Is the MacArthur-Wilson island biogeography model appropriate when discussing habitat islands of 1-100 ha?

    Academic text (1992)
  • Decades later, he wanted to resolve questions about the taxonomy and biogeography of the tigers, long-standing unknowns.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Hubbell (2001) is a key proponent of the neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Seminars hosted by AMNH scientists will be on topics such as evolution, diversity, ecosystems, and biogeography.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

chorology
vsbiogeography
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Study of where plants, animals, or other things live and why in different regions

focuses specifically on where animals and plants live rather than features or relations

Surface Forms

biogeography singular

Morphology

biogeography = geography (semi-transparent) = bio + geo + graphy

The word is formed by adding bio- to geography, but the resulting term is a specialized scientific label rather than a fully everyday combination.

Etymology

The word biogeography comes from the parts bio- ('life'), like in biology, and geography ('the earth and its places'). So biogeography is the study of where plants and animals live and how they are spread across the earth.