Clustering Analysis of Distributional Patterns of Global Terrestrial Mammal

Abstract

: In this study, the world’s land (except Antarctica) is divided into 67 basic geographical units according to ecological types. Using our newly proposed MSCA (Multivariate Similarity Clustering Analysis) method, 7,591 species of modern terrestrial mammals belonging to 1,374 genera in 162 families and 2,378 species of mammals in the Wallace era before 1876 are quantitatively analyzed, and almost the same clustering results are obtained, with clear levels and reasonable clustering, which conform to the principles of geography, statistics, ecology and biology. It not only affirms and supports the reasonable kernel of Wallace’s scheme, but also puts forward suggestions that should be revised and improved. The large or small differences between the clustering results and the mammalian geographical zoning schemes of contemporary scholars are caused by different analysis methods, and they are highly consistent with the analysis results of chordates, angiosperms and insects in the world analyzed by the same method. Once again, it confirms the homogeneity of the global biological distribution pattern of major groups, and the possibility of building a unified biogeographic zoning system in the world.