Range (biology)

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Population distribution redirects here. For the probability distribution of a statistical population, see Probability distribution and Statistical population.

The three basic types of population distribution within an area. From top to bottom: spaced (uniform/regular), random and clumped (aggregated).

In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.

The term is often qualified:

sometimes a distinction is made between a species' native range and the places to which it has been introduced by human agency (deliberately or accidentally), as well as where it has been re-introduced following extirpation.
for species which are found in different regions at different times of year, terms such as summer range and winter range are often employed.
for species where only part of their range is used for breeding activity, the terms breeding range and non-breeding range are used.
when discussing mobile animals, the species' natural range is often discussed, as opposed to areas where it occurs as a vagrant.
geographic or temporal qualifiers are often added e.g. British range or pre-1950 range.

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