What is biogeography concerned with?

Biogeography is fundamentally focused on the study of species distribution in space and time. This field investigates how different species are spread across various geographical areas and how historical events, such as climate changes and continental drift, have influenced their current locations and diversity. It provides insights into the patterns of biodiversity observed in different ecosystems and how these patterns have shifted over time due to ecological and evolutionary processes.

Understanding species distribution also involves examining factors such as habitat types, geographical barriers, and ecological interactions that contribute to the presence or absence of species in particular regions. This aspect of biogeography highlights not only where species are found but also how their distributions have changed in response to environmental alterations and historical contexts.

The other choices touch upon related topics but do not fully capture the broad scope of biogeography. For instance, the movement of animals across continents might reflect aspects of biogeographic studies, yet it is a narrower concept within the broader study of species distribution. The relationship between species and their environment pertains more to ecology, while the evolution of species over geological time aligns more with paleontology and evolutionary biology rather than specifically focusing on their spatial distributions.