The Distribution of Organisms in Space

Abstract

For a long time ecologists have studied the spatial distribution of species. On a very large scale these studies have been biogeographical, often concerned with assessing evolutionary significance or adaptive radiation. On a smaller scale there has been the collection of ‘faunistic’ data, which are essentially lists of species occurring within some predetermined habitat. The biogeographical studies are important in understanding some of the ecological influences acting upon populations, and must form a part of conservation management. Management techniques will, for example, be different for a species on the edge of its geographical range and for the same species clearly within its range. The geographical study of distribution has been the subject of some theoretical treatment, especially in relation to island biogeography, and this will be discussed later in this chapter.