Children: Biogeography
The Alpine Biogeographic Region refers to a specific ecological and geographical zone characterized by its unique climate, flora, and fauna found in high-altitude areas, particularly in mountain ranges. This region primarily exists above the treeline, where the conditions are too harsh for most trees to survive but still support a variety of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and animals adapted to cold and often windy conditions.
The Anatolian Biogeographic Region corresponds to the geographical area of Anatolia, which is a large peninsula in Turkey also known as Asia Minor. This region is characterized by its unique and diverse flora and fauna, shaped by its distinct climatic, geological, and topographical features. **Key characteristics of the Anatolian Biogeographic Region include:** 1. **Geological Diversity:** The region encompasses various types of landscapes, including mountains, plateaus, and coastal areas, contributing to its rich biodiversity.
Animal geography is a subfield of human geography that focuses on the spatial relationships and interactions between animals and their environments, as well as the ways in which human activities impact these dynamics. It explores how different species are distributed across various environments, how they interact with their habitats, and how factors such as climate change, urbanization, and agriculture influence their populations and behaviors.
The Antarctic realm refers to the biogeographic region that encompasses the Antarctic continent and the surrounding Southern Ocean. This realm is characterized by its unique ecosystems, climatic conditions, and biodiversity, which have adapted to the extreme cold and isolation of the region. Key features of the Antarctic realm include: 1. **Geographic Location**: It includes the Antarctic continent, the sub-Antarctic islands, and the surrounding waters of the Southern Ocean.
Antitropical distribution refers to a biogeographical pattern where certain species or organisms are found in temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but are absent from the tropics. This type of distribution is counterintuitive because it suggests that certain taxa have evolved or persisted in cooler temperate regions rather than in the warmer tropics where one might expect higher diversity and richness.
The Arctic Biogeographic Region refers to a distinct ecological zone characterized by its unique climatic conditions, vegetation, and animal life. This region generally encompasses areas within the Arctic Circle and includes parts of the Arctic Ocean and surrounding landmasses, such as Greenland, Canada, Alaska (USA), northern Europe (particularly Norway and Russia), and the Arctic parts of Asia.
"Arctic-alpine" refers to a biogeographical zone characterized by the presence of plants and animals adapted to cold environments, typically found in high-latitude regions and at high altitudes. This term is often used in ecology and geography to describe ecosystems that share similarities between Arctic regions, which are typically found near the poles, and alpine regions, which are found in high mountain ranges regardless of latitude.
The Arcto-Tertiary Geoflora refers to a historical biogeographic region characterized by the distribution of temperate and subtropical plant species during the Tertiary period, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. This geoflora is significant in the study of paleobotany and biogeography as it highlights the relationships between ancient plant communities and their present-day counterparts.
The Area of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) is a designation used primarily within the European Union's Natura 2000 network, aimed at protecting and conserving certain natural habitats and wildlife species. These areas are designated under the European Union's Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, which aim to protect biodiversity across the member states. Key points about Areas of Special Conservation Interest include: 1. **Purpose**: The primary goal is to protect natural habitats and species that are considered threatened or vulnerable.
The Atlantic Biogeographic Region is a biogeographic area characterized by unique ecological and biological features, primarily associated with the Atlantic Ocean and its coastal and marine environments. It encompasses a variety of habitats, including coastal wetlands, estuaries, marine ecosystems, and various terrestrial ecosystems adjacent to these water bodies. This region is significant for its biodiversity, hosting numerous species of plants and animals, many of which are adapted to the specific conditions of the Atlantic environment.
Biocoenosis refers to the community of living organisms that interact with one another in a particular environment or ecosystem. It encompasses all the different species—plants, animals, microorganisms, and fungi—that cohabit a specific area and interact in various ways, such as through predation, competition, symbiosis, and other ecological relationships. The concept is often discussed in the context of ecology and is crucial for understanding the dynamics of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the overall functioning of the environment.
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to the variety of life on Earth. It encompasses the diversity of species, genetic variations within those species, and the ecosystems in which they live. Biodiversity is often understood at three main levels: 1. **Genetic Diversity**: This refers to the variation in genetic makeup among individuals of a species. High genetic diversity within a species can enhance its ability to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases.
Biodiversity loss refers to the decline in the variety and variability of life forms on Earth. This includes the reduction in the number of species, genetic diversity within species, and the variety of ecosystems in which these species live. Biodiversity is crucial for the health of ecosystems, as it contributes to ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, water purification, and climate regulation.
A biogeochemical cycle is a natural process that recycles nutrients in various forms from the non-living environment to living organisms and back again. This cycle involves the transformation and movement of elements and compounds between biological (biotic) and geological (abiotic) components of the Earth.
The biogeographic classification of India is a system that categorizes the country's diverse ecological regions based on their flora, fauna, and climatic conditions. This classification helps in understanding the distribution of various species and ecosystems. The primary biogeographic divisions of India, as proposed by the Indian biogeographer Dr. K. K.
A biogeographic realm is a large, distinct region of the Earth's surface that is characterized by specific ecological and climatic conditions and is home to particular plants and animals. These realms are typically defined by the distribution of species, evolutionary history, and geographical barriers that influence the biodiversity and organic life within them. Biogeographic realms are often used in biogeography, the scientific study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.
Biogeographic regions of Europe refer to the classification of areas based on their unique climatic, geological, and ecological characteristics. These regions help in understanding biodiversity, conservation efforts, and the distribution of various species across the continent. The European biogeographic regions are often categorized by the presence of specific ecosystems, flora, and fauna. The main biogeographic regions in Europe include: 1. **Alpine Region**: Characterized by high mountain areas with glacial and subalpine ecosystems.
The biogeography of deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystems refers to the study of the distribution and diversity of life forms in deep-sea environments that rely on chemosynthesis as their primary source of energy, rather than photosynthesis. These ecosystems are typically found in extreme environments, such as hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and whale falls, where organisms harness chemical energy produced by reactions involving inorganic compounds, often sulfur or methane.
Biogeography of gastropods refers to the study of the geographic distribution of gastropod species, which are a large and diverse class of mollusks that include snails and slugs. This field examines how various factors such as environmental conditions, evolutionary processes, and historical events have influenced the distribution patterns of these organisms across different regions of the world.
Biogeography refers to the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. When it comes to paravian dinosaurs, which include birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur relatives (such as dromaeosaurids and troodontids), biogeography provides insights into how these animals were distributed across different regions during the Mesozoic era.