Classical biogeography has therefore always been concerned with analysing distribution areas, known as ranges. A basic (but exceptionally labour-intensive) aim of biogeography is therefore to record the distribution of species worldwide. This work is often carried out on a voluntary basis by naturalists in painstaking detail. However, the existence of good distribution maps is the essential basis for answering all other biogeographical questions.
Since the middle of the 19th century, the comparison of distribution areas, the search for common distribution patterns and the regional faunistic-floristic composition have been used to divide the earth into different biogeographical units, the biological realms, i.e. the macrogenetic structure of the earth. Alfred R. Wallace’s 1876 classification proposal, developed using the simplest methods, is still largely valid today! However, improved data bases, high computing capacities and new modelling approaches have recently led to significant progress and clarifications.
Range dynamics are of particular interest in biogeography. Until a few decades ago, this could be investigated almost exclusively by comparing distribution data (= chorology) and morphological trait distributions. A real revolution in biogeography was brought about by the use of rapidly developing molecular genetic methods, which now allow questions to be answered with a precision and accuracy that would have been considered absolute science fiction just a few decades ago. The independent research field of phylogeography developed. If sufficient sample material is available, it is now possible to reconstruct the spatio-temporal dynamics of species at a very high level with a reasonable amount of labour and finance.
The Biogeography Section makes its contributions primarily in this area. Different butterfly species are usually used as model organisms, but other invertebrate groups are also studied. The regional research focus is on the Palaearctic, i.e. extra-tropical Eurasia. The focus here is on species of the European high mountains, the Mediterranean region and the neighbouring Sahara and island groups such as the Canary Islands, as well as forest species with a wide distribution in Eurasia. Larger summarising works were also produced in the section. This included the comprehensive German textbook on Molecular Biogeography (Schmitt 2020), of which an updated English version is currently in preparation. Several overview papers on various biogeographical topics and different regions have also been published by members of the section (Schmitt 2007 & 2009, Varga & Schmitt 2008, Schmitt & Varga 2012, Husemann et al. 2014, Schmitt et al. 2021).
In addition to his functions at Senckenberg, section head Thomas Schmitt also holds the professorship of Entomology and Biogeography in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Potsdam. As part of his teaching, he teaches the module on Biogeography, which consists of a lecture and associated excursions and field exercises. The section also offers interested students the opportunity to write qualification theses on biogeographical topics.
