Biogeography

The course will provide the necessary knowledge in order to understand the present distribution of living organisms on Earth. Basic information about historical and ecological processes shaping the present biogeographic pattern will be also provided. The main biogeographic partition of the Earth are discussed Particular attention will be given to the knowledge of Italian flora and fauna and to the understanding of the causes of their distribution. Methodological issues are taken into account from the recent biogeographic literature.

The student will acquire:
basic knowledge of the main abiotic factors at global scale and of their role in shaping the distribution of living organisms
basic knowledge of the main past geological events and of their role in shaping the distribution of living organisms
knowledge of the concept of distribution range and ability of understanding its meaning
knowledge of the main biogeographic partitions of planet Earth and of the main distribution patterns of selected animal and plant taxa.