An Update of Wallace’s Zoogeographic Regions of the World
University of Copenhagen · Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research · +7 more institutions
Abstract
Modern attempts to produce biogeographic maps focus on the distribution of species, and the maps are typically drawn without phylogenetic considerations. Here, we generate a global map of zoogeographic regions by combining data on the distributions and phylogenetic relationships of 21,037 species of amphibians, birds, and mammals. We identify 20 distinct zoogeographic regions, which are grouped into 11 larger realms. We document the lack of support for several regions previously defined based on distributional data and show that spatial turnover in the phylogenetic composition of vertebrate assemblages is higher in the Southern than in the Northern Hemisphere. We further show that the integration of…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 42.30
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 721
Authors
15- BGBen G. HoltCorresponding
University of Copenhagen
- JLJean‐Philippe LessardCorresponding
University of Copenhagen
- MKMichael K. Borregaard
University of Copenhagen
- SASusanne A. Fritz
University of Copenhagen, Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre
- MBMiguel B. Araújo
University of Copenhagen, University of Évora, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
Topics & keywords
- Biogeography
- Biodiversity
- Cornerstone
- Phylogenetic tree
- Geography
- Ecology
- Vertebrate
- Zoogeography
- Life in Land