Homology, biogeography and areas of endemism

Abstract

Hypotheses of biogeographic homology constitute the basis of historical biogeography. Primary biogeographic homology refers to a conjecture on a common biogeographic history, and secondary biogeographic homology refers to the cladistic test of the formerly recognized homology. Panbiogeography deals with the former, through the recognition of generalized tracks and areas of endemism, whereas cladistic biogeography deals with the latter, through the generation of general area cladograms. A historical biogeographic analysis may include both approaches, in a two-stage analysis.