Teacher(s)
Language
French
Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of ecology (e.g. LBIO1117) is required for this course and ideally also some knowledge of evolution.
Main themes
This theoretical section addresses both historical and ecological explanations for the current distribution of living beings.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| Discuss the ancient and current causes of the geographical distribution of living beings and their groupings and the dynamics of this distribution | |
Content
The partial course LGEO1332A comprises the theoretical part of the complete course LGEO1332, so without the practical work.
Historical biogeography
Historical factors that influence present-day distributions: continental drift, climate change, mass extinctions; global distribution of diversity at higher taxonomic levels; phytogeographical kingdoms and zoogeographical provinces; centres of origin; vicariance; long-distance dispersal; ice ages; Quaternary phylogeography; glacial refugia; diversification.
Ecological biogeography
Patterns of biodiversity: counting species, gradients of biodiversity, hotspots, diversity in time (succession, climax), richness and diversity.
Patterns of distribution: geographical range, methods to represent distribution ranges on maps, effects of scale, limits to distributions, overcoming the barriers, types of connections, relictual distributions, endemism, dispersal, invasions, migration, the ecological niche, niche overlap, fundamental and realized niche.
Communities and ecosystems: community richness, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta richness, diversity index, closed and open communities, plant growth forms, plant formations, biomes, zonal vegetations, arid regions, interzonal vegetations, predictive models.
Island biogeography : types of islands, arriving on an island, species-area relationships, surviving on an island, the Theory of Island Biogeography, evolution and speciation on islands, adaptive radiation, insularity syndromes.
Historical biogeography
Historical factors that influence present-day distributions: continental drift, climate change, mass extinctions; global distribution of diversity at higher taxonomic levels; phytogeographical kingdoms and zoogeographical provinces; centres of origin; vicariance; long-distance dispersal; ice ages; Quaternary phylogeography; glacial refugia; diversification.
Ecological biogeography
Patterns of biodiversity: counting species, gradients of biodiversity, hotspots, diversity in time (succession, climax), richness and diversity.
Patterns of distribution: geographical range, methods to represent distribution ranges on maps, effects of scale, limits to distributions, overcoming the barriers, types of connections, relictual distributions, endemism, dispersal, invasions, migration, the ecological niche, niche overlap, fundamental and realized niche.
Communities and ecosystems: community richness, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta richness, diversity index, closed and open communities, plant growth forms, plant formations, biomes, zonal vegetations, arid regions, interzonal vegetations, predictive models.
Island biogeography : types of islands, arriving on an island, species-area relationships, surviving on an island, the Theory of Island Biogeography, evolution and speciation on islands, adaptive radiation, insularity syndromes.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Evaluation methods
Written exam with open questions, a separate series of questions for each teacher. The average of the two scores will be calculated to give the final score for the theoretical part.
Partial dispensation is automatic for successfully completed parts (10/20 or more) between exam sessions of the same academic year. If you still want to redo the exam for such a part, you should inform the teacher of that part.
Partial dispensation is automatic for successfully completed parts (10/20 or more) between exam sessions of the same academic year. If you still want to redo the exam for such a part, you should inform the teacher of that part.
Other information
Basic knowledge of the principles of ecology is required (e.g. the course LBIO1117), and ideally also some notion of evolution (e.g. from the course LBIO1110).
Online resources
Bibliography
Cox, C.B. & P. D. Moore (2005). Biogeography, an ecological and evolutionary approach (7th edition). Blackwell Publishing
Teaching materials
- Diaporamas des cours théoriques sous forme de fichiers pdf, disponibles sur Moodle
- Livres et documents de référence, disponibles sur Moodle
Faculty or entity
