New map of global animal distribution

Based on a map of the distribution of animals worldwide, published by Charles Darwin's evolutionary biologist Alfred Russell Wallace, a team of scientists published a new, more up-to-date version of the map. 20,000 species of mammals, birds and amphibians are living on Earth.

Lead researcher Ben Holt of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark says the new version is based on Wallace's first map, which updates the data for a long time and describes it in extreme detail. Details of thousands of vertebrates are distributed in the natural world.

The entire map is divided into 11 geographic areas and 20 animal regions. The animals in Madagascar have a separate area. Looking at map data shows that in the southern hemisphere there is greater biodiversity than the northern hemisphere. Currently new map data are mammals, birds and amphibians. Other animal classes will be added later.

The new map updates the distribution of 20,000 species

The data of this new map can be used to make smaller scale area maps. It is even included in the Google Earth or Geographic Information Systems program. In addition, the new map uses almost unimaginable data resources during Wallace's time. It uses genetic analysis to identify species plus the classic anatomy described by Wallace.

To complete this new map, a total of 15 researchers worked on the new 20 years of compilation. Developing a distribution map for animals will help to clarify the impact of global climate change on habitats and the impact of invasive species. 'The map provides important information for future ecological research and evolution. It also has great significance for conservation in the face of biodiversity crisis and global environmental change , "said Jean-Philippe Lessard of McGill University in Canada.