History of Ecological Sciences, Part 61B: Terrestrial Biogeography and Paleobiogeography, 1840s–1940s

Terrestrial biomes: a conceptual review

“…The earliest attempts at a biome vegetation classification were simply to aid in the description of the world's vegetation, to better comprehend where, and potentially why, vegetation occurred in that precise context. Predating Darwin, some tried to explain differences through concepts such as special creations (Egerton 2018). From these descriptive beginnings, however, global schemas have evolved to incorporate our increased understanding of the complexity of abiotic influences on flora.…”

“…In fact, the convergence in physiognomy of major vegetation types is now expected to occur if they live under similar broad environmental conditions. (Egerton 2018). De Candolle (1820) created biogeographic kingdoms based on a more complex understanding of composition that included areas of taxonomic endemism within species and genera (with reference to climate); however, no maps were produced.…”

History of Ecological Sciences, Part 61C: Marine Biogeography, 1690s–1940s

“…At the time, the Smithsonian's director was Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823–87), who did not play the same patron role for aquatic collectors as we saw him play for animal collectors in the American West (Egerton ). The situations were quite different.…”

“…Four articles on land distributions of Arctic plants, Arctic animals, Antarctic and sub‐Antarctic plant life, and animal life, published in 1928, were briefly discussed in part 61B (Egerton ). The article on Arctic plants did not discuss aquatic species.…”

History of Ecological Sciences, Part 62: Saving Habitats and Managing Wildlife in the United States and Canada before 2000

“…The Federal Government developed roles for agencies in the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior (Dingell and Potter ). C. Hart Merriam (1855–1942), whom we met in parts 49 and 61B (Egerton :65–69, :33–34), was more interested in birds and mammals than in practicing medicine. In 1884, AOU asked Congress to establish an office to study birds and mammals (Dunlap :35).…”