UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BANNU

Branches of Zoogeography
Mr. Arifullah
BS Zoology

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Branches of Zoogeography
Zoogeography can be categorized into three major divisions that give rise several
branches.
These branches cover different aspects of zoogeography.
(1) Applied (2)Descriptive (3)Causal zoogeography
(a)Chorology (a)Ecological
(b) Faunistics (b) Historical
(c) Systematics (c)Experimental
(d) Biocoenotic

1: Applied Zoogeography (also C/D Biological control)

The study of particular use of distribution of animals for the benefits or interests of human beings.
OR
Applied zoogeography deals with geographical distribution of both past and present animals.
 It has crucial applications for conservation and sustainable use of many levels of
Biological diversity.
 Play important role in biological control of pest.
 Management and conservation of species
in its native area.

2: Descriptive Zoogeography
Study of animals in their natural habitat. OR Study of animals and their habitat.
 It is concerned with geographical range.
 It integrates the information on the historical and current ecology, physiology and genetics
of organism.

It has four sub branches.

I: Chorology zoogeography
Chorology comes from two Greek words choro means space and logia means to study.
Study of specific places or regions is with reference to animal distribution. OR
The study of the spatial distribution of animals.
 It explains as exactly as possible the geographical range of animals.

II: Faunistics zoogeography

Study of animals species in a specific region.
 Baseline Faunistics data include records of species in a given area, times of their presence, and
habitat associations. These data are important for identifying areas that contain unique
assemblages and for monitoring changes in ecosystems over time.
 The study of all the species of animals found in a particular region, period, or special
environment.
 Five faunal realms, based on terrestrial animal species, are generally recognized: Palearctic,
Nearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, Neotropical and Australian region.
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III: Systematics zoogeography

It is the study of animal diversity and their origin inhabiting different regions of the world.
OR
Study of total combination of phenomena related to the evolution of species and their
distribution.
 It determine the geographical distribution of animals especially the cause and effect of
such distribution e.g. distribution of birds and termites.
IV: Biocoenotic zoogeography (Biocenosis)
The study of the interacting animals living together in a habitat affecting each other abundance,
and existence.

(3): Causal zoogeography

In casual zoogeography we study the causes that are or have been operative to bring about the
type of animal distribution actually found in present day faunas.
 Whether Benthon, nekton and plankton.

It has three sub branches. Ecological and historical consider two main branches of
zoogeography
I: Ecological zoogeography
It attempts to understand and determine the role of the present biotic and abiotic interactions
that affect the distribution of a particular group of animals.
 The study of animal distributions in terms of their environments.
 Ecological zoogeography looks at how abiotic and biotic forces can shape, or influence,
a species’ range, species replacements along altitudinal or latitudinal gradients,
species richness in different habitats, etc.

II: Historical zoogeography

The study of originations, extinctions, and migrations over time of different animal species in the
different regions of the world, often includes looking at fossil species.
 It aims to understand the past distribution of animas that led to their present day
pattern.
 Historical zoogeography examines long-term processes, taking place over
evolutionary or geological times, in often large geographical areas, concerning large
taxonomical groups or taxa that are now extinct.

III: Experimental zoogeography

It indicates the experimental procedures that have been used to study the origin, evolution and
dispersal of the animals. OR
Study of introduction of new species to an area and to monitor its distribution.