Name: Student ID: General Biology Laboratory Exercise Laboratory Exercise 2: BiogeographyThe study of the distribution of organisms on Earth and the factors controlling this distributionis called biogeography. Its subdivisions are zoogeography, the distribution of animal populations, and phytogeography, the distribution of plant populations.The study of biogeography began with 18th and 19th century naturalists like Alfred Russell Wallace (1823-1914), of evolution fame, who systematically mapped the distribution of plantsand animals over little known regions of the world, such as South America and Southeast Asia. One observation, based on the studies of many species is restricted to a definite range orarea of distribution. Through time, of course, the range will not always stay the same. Any successful population tends to increase its numbers, and the resulting competition between members of the group causes a population expansion. This may lead to an expansion of the boundaries of the range. Geologic factors may change as well, due to plate tectonics, separating populations that were previously contiguous. For example, ancient populations may have been on a northern continent (Laurasia) which later split into North America and Europe/Asia. Other ancient populations may have been on a southern continent (Gondwana) which later split into S. America, Antarctica, and Australia.As the population of organisms expands its range, however, many subtle factors tend to limit the distribution. External factors that limit the distribution of a species are termed barriers. These barriers and may include:(1) physical barriers, such as land for aquatic species, water for terrestrial species, and mountain ranges (these barriers may change over long time periods)(2) climatic barriers, such as temperature (average, seasonal, or extremes), moisture availability, the amount of solar radiation, wind patterns, etc(3) biological barriers, such as absence of appropriate food, competition from other species, predators, or disease. Little was clearly understood until specific populations were studied and the environmental conditions quantitatively measured.In this exercise you are to match the ranges of a series of organisms with various environmental factors that may or may not impose limits upon the organisms’ ranges. These comparisons should enable you to see that any plant or animal distribution can be explained given that the proper environmental factors are examined and the proper questions are asked.The materials for the exercise are two series of maps, one series (paper maps) showing the distributions of the organisms, and the other series (see-through overlays) showing various environmental factors that might affect the organisms’ distributions. Your goal is to compare the distribution of each organism to the environmental factors by placing the overlays over themaps in your manual. It will be necessary to examine all pertinent overlays to make a satisfactory analysis, because each type of organism responds to various environmental variables. Also keep in mind that the final distribution of an organism is a result of the interplay between all these (and more) environmental factors.1Analyze one case at a time; when you have elucidated on the proper environmental factors, answer the questions given for each type of organism. To aid in your ventures, relief maps have been included or placed in the lab. Polar bear A coral reef1. POLAR BEAR (Ursus maritimus). Hint: Be sure to consider ice drift.What environmental factors are associated with the distribution of the polar bear? . What factors act as barriers to the further distribution of these animals? . Why is this species absent from the interior of Greenland? . …absent from temperate regions? . Can you identify a region of the world where polar bears might survive if introduced there? . Why are they not found in that region? .2. REEF CORALS. Hint: Be sure to consider warm and cold currents.What environmental factors are associated with the distribution of the reef corals? . What act as a barrier to their further distribution? . How do you account for the presence of corals at fairly high latitudes in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans? . How do you explain their absence from the tropical west coasts of South America and Africa? . Fossil reef corals can be found in rock formations in Nebraska and Kansas. What can you surmise about this area of the U.S. at some time in the past? .2Penguin Tapir3. PENGUINS (FAMILY SPHENISCIDAE). Hint: Be sure to consider ocean currents.What factors are associated with the distribution of these birds? . What appearsto act as a barrier to their further distribution? . Explain the presence of one species of penguin on the Galapagos Islands, on the equator off the coast of South America? .4. TAPIRS (FAMILY TAPIRIDAE). Hint: Be sure to consider ancient distributions.With what environmental factors is the distribution of tapirs associated? . Fossil tapirs are found in the Northern U.S. and Canada; what can you surmise about the climate of North America at the time tapirs lived there? .What was the distribution of tapirs at that time? . How does this help to explain the present-day discontinuous distribution of these animals? . Regions of Africa have suitable habitat for tapirs; how do you explain their absence from that continent? .3Musk ox Macromischoides5. MUSK-OX (Ovibos moschatus). Hint: Be sure to consider past glaciation.Until