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Add to Lead Section after 3rd paragraph
The short-term interactions within a habitat and species of organisms describe the ecological application of biogeography. Historical biogeography describes the long-term, evolutionary periods of time for broader classifications of organisms. Early scientists, beginning with Carl Linnaeus, contributed theories to the contributions of the development of biogeography as a science. Beginning in the mid-18th century, Europeans explored the world and discovered the biodiversity of life. Linnaeus initiated the ways to classify organisms through his exploration of undiscovered territories. Closely after Linnaeus, George Louis Buffon observed shifts in climate and how species spread across the globe as a result. Buffon believed there was a single species creation event, and that different regions of the world were homes for varying species, which is an alternate view than that of Linnaeus. At the end of the 18th century, Alexander Von Humboldt developed the concept of physique generale to demonstrate the unity of science and how species fit together. As one of the first to contribute empirical data to the science of biogeography through his travel as an explorer, he observed differences in climate and vegetation.

In the 19th century, several additional scientists contributed new theories to further develop the concept of biogeography. Charles Lyell, being one of the first contributors in the 19th century, developed the theory of uniformitarianism after studying fossils. Charles Darwin was a natural theologist who studied around the world but most importantly in the Galapagos Islands. Alfred Russel Wallace was commonly known as the father of biogeography, as he studied the influence of organism behaviors in varying species.

Alfred Wegener introduced the Theory of Continental Drift in 1912, which describes the distribution of organisms and landmass around the globe. Robert MacArther and Edward O. Wilson use the Theory of Island Biogeography to describe how large islands have greater biodiversity than smaller island.

Current applications of biogeography imply the significance of the science in the modern world. Technological advances have allowed satellite imaging and processing of Planet Earth. Current scientists also use coral reefs to delve into the history of biogeography through the fossilized reefs. GIS, or General Information Sensing, can show certain processes on the Earth’s surface like whale locations, sea surface temperatures, and bathymetry. Ced015 (talk) 15:16, 31 March 2014 (UTC)

History
(paragraph 2): These predominant characters in the study of biogeography were influenced by early contributors to the study of biodiversity and life science, such as Linnaeus. As Europeans explored the world and discovered the biodiversity of life in the mid-18th century, Linnaeus further contributed to the development of biogeography as a science. Carl Linnaeus, in the mid-18th century, initiated the ways to classify organisms through his exploration of undiscovered territories. When he noticed that species were not as perpetual as he believed, he developed the Mountain Explanation to explain the distribution of biodiversity. When Noah’s ark landed on Mount Ararat and the waters receded, the animals dispersed throughout different elevations on the mountain. This showed different species in different climates proving species were not constant. Linnaeus’ findings set a basis for ecological biogeography. Closely after Linnaeus, George Louis Buffon observed shifts in climate and how species spread across the globe as a result. Buffon believed there was a single species creation event, and that different regions of the world were homes for varying species, which is an alternate view than that of Linnaeus. Buffon’s Law eventually became a principle of biogeography by explaining how similar environments were habitats for comparable types of organisms. Following this period of exploration came the Age of Enlightenment in Europe, which attempted to explain the patterns of biodiversity observed by Buffon and Linnaeus. At the end of the 18th century, Alexander Von Humboldt developed the concept of physique generale to demonstrate the unity of science and how species fit together. As one of the first to contribute empirical data to the science of biogeography through his travel as an explorer, he observed differences in climate and vegetation. This ultimately enabled him to create the isotherm, which allowed scientists to see patterns of life within different climates. Agustin de Candolle was yet another contributor to the field of biogeography in that he observed species competition and the several differences that influenced biodiversity.