Some of the typical forms of spatial analysis of geographic information systems are the same as those in biogeography, e.g., mapping of distributions, overlay of species ranges, and locating areas of high species richness or endemism. We are exploring the interface between GIS and systematics using the extensive database on the distribution of heliconiid and ithomiine butterflies of K. S. Brown. The figure above illustrates the levels of subspecies richness of these butterflies in tropical America. Each colored square is a cell of 1/2 degree of latitude by 1/2 degree of longitude, the color being a representation of the total number of subspecies found there. The colors are represented as a ramp from red (low numbers) to blue (highest). The distribution of each of the 800+ taxa are stored individually and this map was generated by adding all of those together. Analysis conducted on a Silicon Graphics Indigo workstation using Arc/Info software for analysis and the Digital Chart of the World for the base maps.
Norman F. Johnson nfjohnso@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
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