Biogeography

Biogeography is the study of the distribution of animals.

Poachers Use Academic Journals to Target Newly Discovered Species

Elizabeth Borneman

Academics have now started to omit the geographical information from their articles in order to protect endangered species from exploitation.

Ancient temperate rainforest in the Upper Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island, BC. Photo: TJ Watt

Are Ecosystems That are Rich in Biodiversity More Resilient to Diseases?

Elizabeth Borneman

An ecosystem that is rich in biodiversity is stronger and more resilient to diseases, a recent series of studies has shown.

Map of the world's forests. Source: Crowther et al, 2015.

How Many Trees are There in the World?

Caitlin Dempsey

According to the latest research, the total number of trees in the world is 3.041 trillion (that’s 3,041,000,000,000).  The revised number is ...

The natural diversity of large mammals is shown as it would appear without the impact of modern man (Homo sapiens). The figure shows the variation in the number of large mammals (45 kg or larger) that would have occurred per 100 x 100 kilometer grid cell. The numbers on the scale indicate the number of species. Credit: Soren Faurby

Map of the World Without Humans

Elizabeth Borneman

In a world without humans, elk and buffalo would roam the Great Plains and elephants might still trumpet across Europe.

Variation in spider size. Photo: Elizabeth Lowe

The Urban Heat Island Effect is Triggering Larger and More Spiders

Elizabeth Borneman

Researchers in Australia have found that the urban heat island effect results in larger and more abundant spiders.

GAP ecological gap analysis map. Map: USGS.

Gap Analysis

Elizabeth Borneman

Gap analysis in ecology identifies areas where species lack protection, comparing actual habitats to areas conserved in order to guide conservation efforts.

Theory of Island Biogeography illustrated in a graph. Graph: Wikipedia.

Island Biogeography

Elizabeth Borneman

The biogeography of islands is a fascinating topic that extends to more than just island locations. The ‘island’ part of ...

Caused by Monarch butterflies in flight?

Mass Movements So Large You Can See Them on Radar

Caitlin Dempsey

The U.S. National Weather Service in Saint Louse, Missouri recently reported that a butterfly shaped pattern on its radar was the result of... butterflies.

Releasing homing pigeons near Priddy. © Copyright Rog Frost and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. Face blurred for privacy.

Animal Navigation Through Magnetoception

Elizabeth Borneman

Magnetoception is the ability for certain animals to orient themselves based on the earth’s magnetic field.

Female (upper bird) and male (lower bird) Passenger Pigeons. Reproduced from the John J. Audubon Plate

Centennial of the Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon

Caitlin Dempsey

September 1, 2014 marks the hundred year anniversary of the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon.  Passenger pigeons were once the ...

Unique Features of the Australasian Geographic Zone

Elizabeth Borneman

Australasia is a unique geographical and ecological zone compromised of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and other small islands nearby.

Bristlecone pine forest in Great Basin National Park. Photo: USGS, public domain.

Island Biogeography of the Great Basin

Rachel Quist

The theory of island biogeography is one of the explanations as to why speciation occurs.

Using GIS to Pinpoint Osama bin Laden

Caitlin Dempsey

A UCLA report revealed the results of a GIS study on emphasizing the likely location of Osama bin Laden.

Line in the Sand – How the Same Species Differ Across Borders

Caitlin Dempsey

A study from the University of Haifa looked at differences between rodent, reptile, and ant lion species in Jordan and Israel.

Bothriocyrtum californicum (California Trapdoor Spider). Photo: Davefoc, MediaWiki Commons, CC BY 3.0

Biogeography of the Californian Trapdoor Spider

Caitlin Dempsey

Californian trapdoor spiders are found in a wide range of habitats and climates, ranging from hot, dry cresote bush scrub to cool montane red fir forests, and wet coast redwood forests.

A wildlife underpass at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas. Photo: Mitch Sternberg/USFWS, public domain.

How Space and Time Affect Conservation Biology

Caitlin Dempsey

Time and space are two extremely important concepts that are central to formulating theories and models in biotic conservation.