Island Biogeography Analysis

Raven et al. (2014) defines biogeography as a study of the geographic distribution of species, and ties tougher how the species are related or not related and natural selection. Moseley et al. (2014) define biogeography as the study of patters that may form in the biotic environment and we can use the scientific process and information gathered from the past and present to study the distributions of plants and animals. Moseley et al. (2014) are the only authors that go into details about why we should study past biogeography in defining what biogeography is. It is important to study the past to learn about the climate, help us understand the basic mechanisms of life and also help us see and understand what environmental and climate effects …show more content…
Habitat fragmentation has become an increasing issue. Island biogeography has helped with understanding what fragmentation can do and has helped with developments in several areas such as landscape ecology in North America (Wu and Vankat 1995). However, Kent (2007) explains the relationship between landscape ecology and biogeography is uncertain. Purse et al. (2015) use landscape and climate to help determine why an alien species Harmonia axyridis was more prone to spread to some areas but not others. The study was able to show environmental conditions but mostly habitat have made areas more vulnerable to the invasion of Harmonia axyridis, but there was some evidence of climate factors having some influence (Purse et al. 2015). This is something that could be applied in many areas today with introduced and invasive species. Wu and Vankat, (1995) also talk about applications in nature conservations and the design of nature reserves times. It is also important to note that while island biogeography has been had a big influence on various concepts in ecology, evolutionary biology and biogeography, it has not been without criticism (Wu and Vankat …show more content…
Fierer and Jackson (2006) looked at biogeography of bacterial communities in soil. While it has been centuries that patters of plants and animals have been studied, it is not until recent that microorganism was studied (Fiere and Jackson 2006). Fiere and Jackson (2006) hypothesized that these bacterial communities found in soil exhibit biogeographical patterns at continental scales. No clear relationship between bacterial diversity and plant diversity was found, no latitudinal gradient was found either but it appeared soil PH was the best predictor for how rich and diverse the bacterial community was (Fiere and Jackson