Biology 241 Biogeography: Life through time and space Consider time and space: past, present and

d future Course outline is same as Term Paper outline Selected References: Barry-cox and moore, biogeography Cain, foundations of plant geography Darlington, Zoogeography Daubernmire, Plant geography Pielou Biogeography Polunin Introduction to plant ecology and geography Udvardy Dynamic zoogeography Watts Principles of biogeography Wulff Historical Plant Geography Assigned journals

Biogeography - the study of species distribution now existing and fossil and on the basis of past and present areas, the elucidation of the origin and history of biota which in turn gives us a key to an understanding of earths history (Wolff 1933) ELUCIDATION OF ORIGIN AND HISTORY PAST, PRESENT, ORGANISMS Environment attendant to existence of species None of the 4.5 M living species is ubiquitous [Ubiquitous: found everywhere]; their range of distribution is limited (ten-fold of this includes fossil organisms 45M have lived on earth) Speciation vs. extinction?

Nearly cosmopolitan: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.) or Perigrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

No more than 100 sq meters in distribution (narrow endemic - relict) Examples: Isoetes philippinensis Merryl & Perry (Philippine quillwort or rogiro) found in a spring cove in the upper headwater in Agos River in Balo-i, Bulut Island, Lanao Del Sur (Agos River feeds water to Ma. Cristina Falls) Lowland vascular plant (other species found in the upper slopes of the Andes)

Tuatara: Sphenodon punctatus found only in New Zealand

Abucay Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematurophygia) treated as pest in the cornfield in samar, endemic to the Philippines how long to declare when it is extinct.

Biology + Geography is like a shotgun marriage biology as a distinct discipline is rich in information, almost all geographer are biologist or taxonomist from the beginning, youll never undertand the biology of an organism very well without knowing its geographic distribution. Objectives of the course: 1. To account for patterns of distribution that exist (find out about distribution patterns: contracting vs. expanding) Benguet pine Pinus kesiya (synonymn is Pinus insularis Endlecker endemic to the country) but when it was discovered that P insularis was just a synonymn of P kesiya, it became outlying in distribution from continental SEA.

To do science is to search for repetitive patterns, not simply to accumulate facts. And to the science of biogeography, it is to search for patterns of animal and plant life that can be put on a map (Robert MacArthur 1972, Geographical Ecology Patterns in the Distribution of Species) 2. To explain the origin and history of world biota on the basis of their past and present distributions Ex. Gingko biloba, like the coelacanth, is a living fossil. Gymnosperm, found in a monastery in Northern China. Widespread in the past (300M years old) Example of reducing distribution pattern.

3. To know the different factors that determine the distribution of life on earth Mosses Class Musci Liverworts Class Hepaticae Hornworts Class Anthocerotae Bryology

Jack rabbit dessert dwelling animal ( Hare), how it will survive?

Jackrabbits are mostly nocturnal. They live in open habitat and run to escape predators rather than hiding in the woods like the rabbit does. The jackrabbit's large eyes are placed back on the head so he can see in front, behind and overhead at the same time. Their keen sense of hearing helps them be aware of their surroundings and potential danger and they rely on their speed to escape from predators. The jackrabbit's large ears also help the hare keep cool. The blood vessels in the ears expand to allow the blood to cool before re-entering the body. The jackrabbit can also decrease the blood flow through its ears in the winter to stay warmer. Jackrabbits do not dig burrows. Instead, they spend the hottest part of the day resting in a bed scratched out at the base of a shrub or in a clump of tall grass where the shade will protect it from the heat. In the winter, a jackrabbit builds its nest under thick foliage that protects it from harsh winds. The black-tailed jackrabbit is an herbivore. In the summer they eat mostly green plants and flowers that are high in water content, so they do not require much water. They will also eat sagebrush and cacti. In the winter, they don't hibernate, and

mainly eat shrubs. Jackrabbits are constantly eating and consume large quantities of food relative to their size. Fifteen jackrabbits eat as much food as a large grazing cow in one day. In agricultural areas the jackrabbit may become a pest to farmers by eating their crops. 4. To show what in the present distribution of biota may be explained by the present climate or environmental conditions and what the consequence of these hallmark conditions are (De Candolle 1855) Climate change we are facing a hypsithermal condition (increasing temperature - global warming) Glacier fossil ice with high isotopic oxygen content: lowers temperature in the temperate regions Find out for the last four ice glaciation? American Stratigraphy Wisconsin? Illinoian? Kansan? Nebraskan? ? ? ? ? European

Tropical rain forest lowers temperature in tropical areas Geography students quickly become aware of the problems of defining their subject. Whereas the scope and subject matter of some branches of the discipline can be relatively easily stated this is not the case with biogeography

Geography has been defined as Study of areal distributions; spatial patterns; locational analysis; manland relationships and the environmental relationships of man. Biogeography implies linkage between biology and geography Studies distribution of biological materials over earths surface and factors responsible for the observed spatial patterns Falcatifolium (gruezoi de laubenfels) Coniferales and Taxales, Type locality: Mt. Falcon, also found in samar, sibuyan island. i.e., Persia: biome is desert; distribution pattern is regular; there is no competition; root system is fibrous Distribution pattern: looking for dispersal patterns Variation in distribution of plants, animals and soil provides spatial patterns for study as fundamental as variation in rock type (geology), land forms (geomorphology) or atmospheric processes (meteorology). We seek not to describe these patterns but also to explain them: Where? Must be followed by Why? o i.e.: Cocos nucifera L. (Palmae/ Arecaceae) would you believe that coconut has two types? Types: Assignment! Why the distribution of Palms are confined in the tropics Mt. Banahaw mossy forest, every 1000 masl reduced temperature to -6 degree Celsius.. We are studying what biologists have always regarded as biogeography but what the geographer has tended to call Plant or Animal Geography. But if the study is at the more local level (large scale) and centres on the individual species or the way species form recognizable assemblages which interact with their effective immediate environment, then the study becomes Plant or Animal Ecology

Biogeography usually places as much emphasis on the distributional aspects as on environmental relationships; tends to stress role of man in patterns and processes or importance for man of the findings in terms of past, present or future in land relationships. Over the years it is this type of study which increasingly has become relevant. Distinctions are not clear, and draws info obtained from many sources (botany, zoology, meteorology, geomorphology, geology, archaeology & sociology) i.e : manatee and sea cow closely related taxa that have diff. distribution ranges.

Both [biogeography and geography] aim at explanation through synthesis of these data. Biogeography as a subfield of geography, noting various definitions and possible research themes (Hill), while the contribution of: the biologist to the subject is apparent, the geographical or spatial elements should not be underated. Assignment: Molecular Clock ? (Coconut) Manila - Acapulco Galleon Trade ? Bicol region, tabaco albay. San Miguel Island origin of the kadang kadang, disease of coconut Darwin: that grand subject, that almost keystone of the laws of creation, Geographical Distribution in a letter to Dalton Hooker in 1845. 17th Century Philosopher Francis Bacon: we cannot command nature unless we obey her. Only recently have we come to appreciate the vital importance of this dictum. With the industrial

and scientific revolutions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, there grew up a feeling that man was becoming somehow independent of nature and would eventually be able to control many aspects of his environment. In the last few decades we have become painfully aware that our relationship with the other parts of nature is now becoming not less but more important. TERM PAPER Abstract Taxonomy Ecology & Botany Distribution Example: Hypothesis on the Geographical Centre of Origin and Diversity of Rafflesia Acknowledgement Literature cited Biogeographical discourse is important! We cannot command Nature unless we obey her. Only recently have we come to appreciate the vital importance of this dictum (Francis Bacon, 17th century) fundamental principle for biogeography Principle of uniformitarianism: physical and chemical laws of the universe remain constant; in the context of our current experiences, these are processes that occurred in the past, still occurring and will occur in the future Resources are not unlimited and if we continue to destroy, pollute or overexploit our physical environment then we severely threaten out own existence as a species. We are now the dominant species over most of the globe, either by virtue of our actual presence or as a consequence of

our activities. The emphasis of biogeography on the role of man in ecological studies makes it a subject of increasing relevance our future well being of our population. Paradox in biogeography: biogeography is a respectable branch of science but little paradoxical as there are very few scientists that can be called biogeographers because those who are involved in it are not geographers but taxonomists, such as: PJ Darlington entomologist at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Eric Hulten deals with arctic flora, i.e. Flora of Alaska and Yukon, flora of Aleutian Islands; 1937 : phytogeographical work on history and origin of Arctic Flora Biogeography makes use of info derived from systematics in the solution of evolutionary problems and others There is really a need to study the organisms as information cannot be derived from anybody or any reference Information is a joint venture between the collectors and the taxonomists who systematically collect, analyze and evaluate them A systematic unit is required and should be defined then actual distribution of this unit can be made or drawn (level in the hierarchy) Species within the genus should have a common ancestor Interaction between genetic make-up and environment: Identical twins subjected to different environments Many plants and animals can exist outside of their localities of environment: hence distribution is not solely dependent on interaction between genetic make-up and environment Caragana arborescens shrub member of leguminosae: not native to north America (Alberta) but native of Siberia

Pinus sylvestris European scotch pine, is not indigenous or native to north America, introduced in Alberta, Canada for timber Picea abies Norway spruce, introduced in Alberta, Canada for timber Theobroma cacao native to central and south America, now found in nearly all tropical countries of the world Rattus rattus norvegicus introduced in almost all parts of the world through trading ships