Biogeography is the study of the distribution of biological organisms. The scale of analysis ranges from very small micro-topography regimes to continental dimensions. Fundamental concepts in this field of study are the nature of barrier formation and response of species to their patterns of travel and migration; in particular, the presence of rivers, mountain ranges, deserts and other natural boundaries are examples of large scale barriers. Besides such major landform barriers there are soil, topographic and meteorological factors that influence the distribution of each species. In the case of smaller scale regimes that are applicable for some bacteria or limited range plant species, there are often very restricted niches; for example, certain bacteria extremophiles may be limited to such localized features as small geyser pools, and some rare plants may have a single extant colony defined specialized soils such as serpentine and narrow climatic zone. Inherent in the concept of biogeography are the processes of speciation, extinction, dispersal and migration.
Although the Borneo peat swamp forests are not as biodiverse as neighbouring lowland rainforests, the Borneo Peat Swamp Forests are some of the most speciose peat...
New Caledonia rainforestsLast Updated on 2013-05-23 at 18:36
The islands of New Caledonia contain some of the most distinctive plants in the world, with a large number of species, endemics, and an ancient character... More »
Valdivian temperate forestsLast Updated on 2013-05-22 at 01:13
The Valdivian temperate forests and the more hygrophilous vegetation of the Mediterranean area of central Chile, represent a true biogeographic island separated from... More »
Central Pacific coastal forestsLast Updated on 2013-05-22 at 00:59
The Central Pacific Coastal Forests stretch from southern Oregon to the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Major habitats of this diverse region include sea stacks, sandy... More »
Ecoregions of PanamaLast Updated on 2013-05-20 at 02:30
The Ecoregions of Panama are shaped by the jagged elongated geometry of the country, its varied terrain within Mesoamerica and its tropical climate. This key land bridge... More »
Baltic SeaLast Updated on 2013-05-15 at 22:50
The Baltic Sea is situated between Scandinavia and mainland Europe, and extends into the North Sea. The sea is split into several smaller basins termed the Gulf of... More »
South China SeaLast Updated on 2013-05-14 at 17:00
The South China Sea is a critical world trade route and a potential source of... More »