Biogeographers study the distribution of plants and animals within a given environment and explain how and why they exist where they do. Professionals working within this specialist field often complete post-graduate study within an area of interest such as habitats of endangered animals or distribution of a particular plant species used in medicine. Biogeographers may find employment in the following areas:

  • Zoos and aquariums
  • Government and non-government environmental protection and conservation agencies
  • Universities
  • Research laboratories
  • The agricultural industry, particularly fishing

Historical biogeography is a subset of this discipline which seeks to explain biogeographical patterns in a historical context and how they are affected by long-term phenomenon such as climate change and continental drift.