Biogeography and Evolutionary Patterns

Biogeography

Study of biodiversity distribution over space and time.

Wallace's Line

Boundary separating Asian and Australian fauna.

Endemic Species

Species found only in a specific location.

Neotropical Realm

Region with unique and diverse taxa.

Provincialism

Coincidental distribution of endemic species.

Cosmopolitan Species

Species found worldwide across different regions.

Disjunct Distribution

Gaps in taxa representation across realms.

Faunal Succession Law

Fossils indicate evolutionary history and taxa age.

Continental Drift

Movement of Earth's continents over geological time.

Plate Tectonics

Theory explaining Earth's lithospheric movements.

Pangaea

Supercontinent existing around 250 million years ago.

Vicariance

Barrier splitting taxa with continuous distribution.

Dispersal

Movement of individuals across barriers.

Range Expansion

Increase in species distribution through habitat.

Jump Dispersal

Movement across barriers to new areas.

Extinction

Elimination of a population or species.

Phylogenetics

Study of evolutionary relationships among species.

Phylogeography

Geographic distribution of genetic lineages.

Mitochondrial Eve

Most recent common maternal ancestor of humans.

Y Adam

Most recent common paternal ancestor of humans.

Great American Interchange

Faunal exchange between North and South America.

Glaciation

Periods of extensive ice coverage on Earth.

Pleistocene Epoch

Period marked by repeated glacial cycles.

Megafauna

Large animals that lived during the Pleistocene.

Homo sapiens

Anatomically modern humans originating in Africa.

Multiregional Hypothesis

Theory of simultaneous human evolution across regions.

Replacement Hypothesis

Modern humans replaced archaic humans from Africa.

Phylogenetic Studies

Research on evolutionary relationships using genetic data.

Armadillo

Mammal species originating from South America.

Elephant Bird

Extinct large bird from Madagascar.

Ratites

Flightless birds originating from Gondwana.

Isthmus of Panama

Land bridge connecting North and South America.

Biotic Interchange

Exchange of species between different biogeographic regions.

Fossil Record

Historical evidence of past life forms.

Genetic Diversity

Variability of genetic traits within a population.

Clade

Group of organisms sharing a common ancestor.

Sister Taxa

Two taxa that are each other's closest relatives.

Mississippi Embayment

Geographic area with unique ecological characteristics.

DNA Sequence Data

Genetic information used to analyze relationships.

Parsimony

Method minimizing assumptions in phylogenetic analysis.

Shared Derived Traits

Characteristics inherited from a common ancestor.

Historical Drainage Patterns

Water flow patterns influencing species distribution.

Glaciated Areas

Regions covered by glaciers during glacial periods.

Post-Glacial Colonization

Species re-establishing populations after glaciation.

Arthropods

Invertebrates with exoskeletons, segmented bodies.