Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
• The recognition that historical and ecological factors interact to de-
termine the global patterns of the biodiversity and the need for more
effective communication between evolutionary and ecological biogeo-
graphers (Crisci et al. 2006; Davis and Scholtz 2001; Holloway 2003;
Ruggiero and Ezcurra 2003). As expressed by Riddle (2005:186), “the
dichotomy between an ecological vs. historical biogeography simply
does not track the many patterns and processes considered relevant
and worthy of attention.”
• The realization that dispersal and vicariance are relevant phases of
biotic evolution (Morrone 2004a). Biogeography should abandon the
sterile opposition between dispersal and vicariance and accept that
after biotic patterns are elucidated, the processes (vicariance, dispers-
al, and extinction) that caused them can be investigated fully.
• The studies showing that biotas are mosaics created by vicariance,
dispersal, and extinction and therefore show reticulate patterns, ne-
cessitating a better understanding of biotic evolution from a phylogen-
eticperspective(BrooksandMcLennan2001;Brown2004;Lieberman
2004; Losos 1996; McLennan and Brooks 2002; Webb et al. 2002).
• The rediscovery of regionalization as a relevant biogeographic inquiry
(Craw et al. 1999; Morrone 2001a). Biogeographic classifications are
not definitive because they change as our vision of biotic evolution
is modified, representing hypotheses about the delimitation of biotic
components and their historical relationships that help us explore
nature (Morrone 2006).
• The increasing awareness of the need to integrate temporal informa-
tion into biogeographic analyses (Donoghue and Moore 2003) while
accepting that fossils give minimum ages for groups, with its implica-
tions for accurate molecular clock calibration (Benton and Donoghue
2007; Magallón 2004).
• The development of phylogeography as a bridge between microevolu-
tion and macroevolution (Avise 2000; Riddle and Hafner 2006).
• The development of macroecology, the analysis of statistical patterns
of ecological attributes between sets of species on large scales, which
allows a bridge between ecology and biogeography (Maurer 2000).
• Reflection about the interaction between the genealogical and ecolo-
gical hierarchies to help explain evolutionary processes and patterns
(Eldredge 1985; Eldredge and Salthe 1984; Morrone 2004c).
