Vietnam 2014 Biogeography of Vietnam and Southeast Asia BIO May 2014 The Science of Biogeography Biogeography is the science that attempts to document and understand spatial patterns of biodiversity at any level. Biogeography is the science that attempts to document and understand spatial patterns of biodiversity at any level. The study of the present and past distributions of organisms and the processes that produce recurring pattern in numbers and kinds of living things. The study of the present and past distributions of organisms and the processes that produce recurring pattern in numbers and kinds of living things. Biogeographic Data Closely related species live close to each other Closely related species live close to each other Genera seem to have wider distributions Genera seem to have wider distributions Families have even wider distributions Families have even wider distributions Major parts of the world have characteristic assemblages of herps Major parts of the world have characteristic assemblages of herps Some smaller places particularly weird Some smaller places particularly weird Madagascar Madagascar Australia Australia New Zealand New Zealand What Produces a Distribution? Basic ecology of a group Basic ecology of a group Habitat choice Habitat choice Density Density Dispersal capability Dispersal capability Recent climatic regimes Recent climatic regimes Thousands of years Thousands of years A few million years A few million years Continental Drift Continental Drift Many millions of years Many millions of years Biogeographic Hypotheses Animal distributions tell us about the past Animal distributions tell us about the past Animals occupy all the areas they can Animals occupy all the areas they can As habitats changes so do the animals As habitats changes so do the animals Animals have different dispersal abilities Animals have different dispersal abilities Long term processes influence distributions of ancient lineages Long term processes influence distributions of ancient lineages Only recent events influence distributions of recent species Only recent events influence distributions of recent species Some Biogeographic Foci Ecological biogeography Ecological biogeography Historical biogeography Historical biogeography Island biogeography Island biogeography Phylogeographic biogeography Phylogeographic biogeography Some Biogeographic Terms Continuous Distributions Continuous Distributions Discontinuous Distributions Discontinuous Distributions Dispersal Dispersal Vicariance Vicariance Endemic Endemic Allochthonous Allochthonous Autochthonous Autochthonous What a biogeographer needs to know: Basic biology: ecology, physiology, anatomy, development, evolutionary history. Basic biology: ecology, physiology, anatomy, development, evolutionary history. Basic geography: locations of continents, mountain ranges, deserts, lakes, major islands, archipelagoes, seas in past and present. Past and present climatic regimes, oceanic currents, tides. Basic geography: locations of continents, mountain ranges, deserts, lakes, major islands, archipelagoes, seas in past and present. Past and present climatic regimes, oceanic currents, tides. Brief history of life on earth, continental drift, glaciation, orogeny, (subduction leads to orogeny) sea level changes. Biogeographic realms, past and present, community types, associations. Ecological Biogeography Distributions of two (or three) spadefoot species Ecological Biogeography Distributions of two (or four) salamander species Family Bufonidae 48 genera and 558 species 48 genera and 558 species Cosmopolitan except Australia/New Zealand Cosmopolitan except Australia/New Zealand Family Bombinatoridae 2 genera and 10 species 2 genera and 10 species E. Europe and Asia E. Europe and Asia Family Megophryidae SE Asian family with 11 genera and 130 species SE Asian family with 11 genera and 130 species Related to European and North American families Related to European and North American families Family Microhylidae 69 genera and 489 species 69 genera and 489 species SE North America, Neotropics, SE Asia, Africa, Northern Australasia SE North America, Neotropics, SE Asia, Africa, Northern Australasia Family Rhacophoridae 14 genera and about 321 species 14 genera and about 321 species Tropical Africa and southern Asia to Japan and Philippines Tropical Africa and southern Asia to Japan and Philippines Family Rhacophoridae Chirixalus Philautus Rhacophorus Family Rhacophoridae Theloderma Polypedetes ? Chirixalus Biogeographic Regions of the World Land Masses in Modern World Land Masses in late Cretaceous 94 MYA Land Areas of the Late Jurassic 152 MYA Land Areas of the Early Jurassic 195 MYA Land Areas of the Late Permian 255 MYA Breakup of Gondwanaland Vietnam is located on the eastern margin of the Indochinese peninsula and occupies about 331,688 square kilometers, of which about 25 % was under cultivation in It borders the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia. The S-shaped country has a north-to-south distance of 1,650 kilometers and is about 50 kilometers wide at the narrowest point. With a coastline of 3,260 kilometers, excluding islands Indochinese peninsulaGulf of ThailandGulf of Tonkin South China SeaChinaLaos Cambodiaislands Indochinese peninsulaGulf of ThailandGulf of Tonkin South China SeaChinaLaos Cambodiaislands Indochina Geography of Vietnam Hanoi Hue Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City Physical Geography of Vietnam Corridors allow movements Physiography Red River Delta The delta of the Red is a flat, triangular region of 15,000 square kilometers, is smaller but more intensely developed and more densely populated than the Mekong River Delta.Mekong River Delta The ancestral home of the ethnic Vietnamese, the delta accounted for almost 70 % of the agriculture and 80 % of the industry of North Vietnam before 1975. Red River Delta The entire delta region, backed by the steep rises of the forested highlands, is no more than three meters above sea level, and much of it is one meter or less. The area is subject to frequent flooding; at some places the high-water mark of floods is fourteen meters above the surrounding countryside. For centuries flood control has been an integral part of the delta's culture and economy. Modeled on that of China's, this ancient system has sustained a highly concentrated population and has made double-cropping wet-rice cultivation possible throughout about half the region.double-cropping Highlands The highlands and mountain plateaus in the north and northwest are inhabited mainly by tribal minority groups. The Giai Truong Son (Annamite Range) originates in the Tibetan and Yunnan regions of southwest China and forms Vietnam's border with Laos and Cambodia. Giai Truong SonTibetanGiai Truong SonTibetan Highlands It terminates in the Mekong River Delta north of H Ch Minh City (formerly Saigon). These central mountains, which have several high plateaus, are irregular in elevation and form. The northern section is narrow and very rugged; the country's highest peak, Fan Si Pan, rises to 3,142 meters in the extreme northwest. It terminates in the Mekong River Delta north of H Ch Minh City (formerly Saigon). These central mountains, which have several high plateaus, are irregular in elevation and form. The northern section is narrow and very rugged; the country's highest peak, Fan Si Pan, rises to 3,142 meters in the extreme northwest. H Ch Minh City plateausFan Si Pan H Ch Minh City plateausFan Si Pan Central Highlands Within the southern portion of Vietnam is a plateau known as the Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen), approximately 51,800 square kilometers of rugged mountain peaks, extensive forests, and rich soil. Comprising 5 relatively flat plateaus of basalt soil the highlands account for 16% of the country's arable land and 22% of its total forested land. Tay Nguyenbasaltarable landTay Nguyenbasaltarable land Central Highlands Before 1975, North Vietnam had maintained that the Central Highlands and the Giai Truong Son were strategic areas of paramount importance, essential to the domination not only of South Vietnam but also of the southern part of Indochina. Before 1975, North Vietnam had maintained that the Central Highlands and the Giai Truong Son were strategic areas of paramount importance, essential to the domination not only of South Vietnam but also of the southern part of Indochina.North VietnamNorth Vietnam Since 1975, the highlands have provided an area in which to relocate people from the densely populated lowlands. Since 1975, the highlands have provided an area in which to relocate people from the densely populated lowlands. Mekong River Delta The Mekong delta, covering about 40,000 square kilometers, is a low- level plain not more than three meters above sea level at any point and criss-crossed by a maze of canals and rivers. So much sediment is carried by the Mekong's various branches and tributaries that the delta advances sixty to eighty meters into the sea every year. Mekong River Delta An official Vietnamese source estimates the amount of sediment deposited annually to be about 1 billion cubic meters, or nearly 13 times the amount deposited by the Red River. An official Vietnamese source estimates the amount of sediment deposited annually to be about 1 billion cubic meters, or nearly 13 times the amount deposited by the Red River. About 10,000 square kilometers of the delta are under rice cultivation, making the area one of the major rice-growing regions of the world. About 10,000 square kilometers of the delta are under rice cultivation, making the area one of the major rice-growing regions of the world.