Animal Distribution

Animal Distribution, patterns that characterize where animals are found around the globe. When scientists study the distribution of animals, they investigate why reindeer, for instance, are found only in certain parts of the arctic tundra, or why malaria-bearing mosquitoes proliferate in damp subtropical areas. Scientists study animal distribution to understand the spread of animal-borne diseases, to acquire knowledge about the preservation of rare species that may have special needs, and to become informed about the changing geography of the world, and our place in its history and its future. To understand these issues, scientists need to identify the specific climates, foods, and geographic features different animals require, and what areas best provide them. The study of animal distribution is called zoogeography.

Animals vary widely in their tolerance of environmental conditions. Some can survive in a variety of habitats, whereas others perish when removed from their natural surroundings. No animals other than humans can create sufficient artificial changes to enable them to exist in a totally strange environment without evolving through many generations of adaptation. The specific interactions of animals with their environments are the subject matter of ecology. The factors affecting animal distribution range from global geological events to local weather conditions.