Synthetic biogeography is the geography of ecosystems and biocenoses , the modern direction of biogeographic research characterized by the use of complex and quantitative methods of a wide range of geographical and biological disciplines based on complex and quantitative indicators. It evaluates the biogeographic features and originality of territories from different angles, and allows you to compare natural territorial complexes using standard indicators and characteristics [1] .
| Integrated science | |
| Synthetic Biogeography | |
|---|---|
| Ecosystem geography, ecosystem biogeography | |
 | |
| Theme | Biogeography , zoogeography , phytogeography , ecology , biogeocenology |
| Subject of study | ecosystem and biogeocenosis |
| The period of origin | 2nd half of the 20th century |
Since 1974, biogeography is part of a new training course at universities, instead of separately studied: zoogeography and phytogeography ( geobotany ). The program of coenotic inventory of nature reserves of the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR began to use in practice the teaching methods of synthetic biogeography.
Term
Biogeography , as a science, already has a complex synthetic character combining concepts from biology, geography, ecology, nature conservation and having its own specific concepts.
The initial synthesis of sciences studying the distribution of organisms began with the theoretical combination of zoogeography and phytogeography as parts of biogeography . They mutually enrich each other and are necessary for comparative geographic research. This forms the basis of modern biogeographic methodology. Biogeographic synthesis is an ecosystem approach and the combination of the geography of animal population and the geography of vegetation.
Landscape and ecological zoogeography is always tied to the floristic characteristics of the area. Therefore, it is zoogeographic studies that make the greatest contribution to synthetic biogeography (1978) [2] :
It can be said that the geography of ecosystems and biocenoses (that is, synthetic biogeography ) depends to a large extent on comparative geographical studies of zoocenoses (or, what can be considered synonyms, of the animal population). Apparently, the statement is not too paradoxical that one of the important goals of modern zoogeography is to contribute to its development and transformation into biogeography.
Ecosystem geography is a synthetic area of biogeographic research based on a variety of information and theoretical studies in auto- and synecology, evolution of organisms, systems theory, zoogeography and phytogeography, paleontology, paleogeography and historical geology [3] .
History
Synthetic biogeography as a direction began to develop in landscape biogeography , with the accumulation of quantitative data on various natural and territorial complexes.
In the 1950s, the basis was the basic principles of landscape zoogeography formulated by A. P. Kuzyakin [4] and A. N. Formozov [5] [6] and developed at Moscow State University and the Institute of Geography of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The further development of synthetic trends in biogeography was facilitated by the International Biological Program (IBE).
Comprehensive studies consisted in the study of plant organisms, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, soils and soil layers. As a result, it was possible to evaluate not only biomass reserves, but also the total metabolism of individual groups and the main energy flows. Such evaluative biosphere studies are carried out at the intersection of biological sciences and earth sciences.
A. G. Bannikov describes this direction of biogeography as follows [7] :
... a generalized synthetic idea of land biocenoses, of those complex and dynamic complexes that form living organisms
- A. G. Bannikov, review of the book Biogeography of the Continents [8]
Since the 1960s, the development of bio-geocenotic, bio-energy and ecosystem concepts has taken place, systemic tendencies in physical geography and balance directions in ecology have been outlined [9] .
In the 1970s, the theoretical foundations of modern synthetic biogeography were developed by P. P. Vtorov , in scientific works and doctoral dissertation (1978) [1] .
Subsequently, ecosystem biogeography was developed at the Department of Biogeography, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University [10] [11] and in the biogeography laboratory of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences [12] .
Tasks and methods of science
In modern biogeography, there are three areas: - recording, causal and synthetic.
Synthetic biogeography is characterized by:
- The object of research is whole communities, not individual groups of organisms.
- The main research method is quantitative accounting and comparative geographic analysis.
Tasks of synthetic biogeography:
- Obtaining complex related biota data.
- A comparative geographic approach to the analysis and interpretation of these data.
- The forecast of changes in environmental impacts, based on the comparative geographical method.
The methods and goals of studying zoogeography and phytogeography have much in common, their biogeographic synthesis is largely justified and enriches each other (especially in environmental / landscape zoogeography), despite the different objects of study. The study of the distribution of the complex of organisms in ecosystems of different scales is the basis of the methodology of synthetic biogeography.
An important task is also the conservation of ecosystems. P.P. Vtorov took part in the 14th IUCN General Assembly ( Ashgabat . September 25 - October 5, 1978). In an interview, he noted the importance of integrated nature conservation: [13]
Now on the agenda ... conservation of entire communities of plants and animals with their characteristic habitat, conservation of ecosystems. And therefore there is a need to create a new "Red Book" . This book will list ecosystems that need protection.
See also
- Biocenosis , Biogeocenosis
- Ecosystem , Biosphere
- Geobotany , Plant Geography
- Zoogeography
- Ecological region
- Synthetic theory of evolution
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Vtorov P. P. Biogeographic inventory and valuation of reference areas of the biosphere: The dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Geographical Sciences. Specialty biogeography. In 2 vols. M.: CLOP of the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR, Moscow State University, 1978. T. 1. 278 p. T. 2. Applications of the table of results of quantitative counts and analyzes of communities. 127 p.
- ↑ Vtorov P.P., Drozdov N.N. Biogeography. Moscow: Enlightenment, 1978.P. 11.
- ↑ Tishkov A. A., Maslyakov V. Yu. Instead of a foreword: On the establishment of a new direction of biogeography - “ecosystem geography” (the experience of scientific autobiography) // Evolution Centers and Historical Migrations of the Globe Biota: Scientific Diary. M .: IG RAS, 2005.S. 6.
- ↑ Kuzyakin A.P. 1951 and 1952 - (search for article titles)
- ↑ Formozov A.N. A quantitative method in zoogeography of terrestrial vertebrate animals and the tasks of transforming the nature of the USSR // Izvestiya AN SSSR. Geographical series. 1951. No. 2.
- ↑ Formozov A. N. Modern issues of zoogeography and their practical significance // materials for the second congress of the Geographical Society of the USSR. M .: Publishing house of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1954.
- ↑ Bannikov A.G. Synthetic biogeography // Nature. No. 7. 1975.
- ↑ Vtorov P.P., Drozdov N.N. Biogeography of the continents. M .: Education, 1974. 223, [1] p.
- ↑ Bannikov A.G., Vtorov P.P. The value of protected and unreformed territories in zoogeographic studies // Theoretical and applied aspects of nature conservation and hunting. 1976. Issue 84. M.: Moscow Veterinary Academy.
- ↑ Makeeva V.M., Nepoklonova M.I., Panfilov D.V. Ecosystem approach to the study of the wildlife of natural zones: a Training manual. M .: Moscow State University, 1994.77 p.
- ↑ Drozdov HH, Myalo E. G. Ecosystems of the world. M .: ABF, 1997.340 s.
- ↑ Tishkov A.A., Maslyakov V. Yu. D.V. Panfilov and the establishment of a new direction of biogeography - “geography of ecosystems”: On the 80th anniversary of D.V. Panfilov (1923-1995) // Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Ser. geographer. 2003. No. 4. P. 112-115.
- ↑ Khamidulina F. From species to ecosystem // Evening Ashgabat. No. 194 (2589) October 4, 1978.P. 1.
Literature
By date of publication:
- Zenkevich L. A. On the tasks, object and method of marine biogeography // Zoological Journal. 1947.V. 24. Issue. 3.
- Bannikov A.G. Synthetic biogeography // Nature. No. 7. 1975. S. 109-110.
- Vtorov P.P., Drozdov N.N. Biogeography. Textbook for teacher training institutes in biological and geographical specialties. M .: Education, 1978. 269, [1] p. : [4] p. ill., 1 l. kart.
- Vtorov P. P. Approaches and methods of modern synthetic biogeography // Modern Problems of Zoogeography. M .: Nauka, 1980.S. 31-60.
- Vtorov P.P., Drozdov N.N. Biogeography. Textbook for high schools. M .: Vlados-Press, 2001. 302, [2] p. : 8 l silt
- Tishkov A. A., Maslyakov V. Yu. D. V. Panfilov and the formation of a new direction of biogeography - “geography of ecosystems”: On the 80th anniversary of D. V. Panfilov (1923-1995) // Izv. RAS. Ser. geographer. 2003. No. 4. P. 112-115.
- Fadeev I.V. Collectors of the State Darwin Museum // Transactions of the State Darwin Museum. Vol. 10. M .: GDM, 2007 S. 23-66.
Links
- Biogeography Textbook for high schools, 2001.
- Zoogeography on the website of Moscow State University.