Biogeography
"16 Discontinuous Patterns. 3 Routes."
01. Eastward
To Japan via Central China
02. Southward
Into the tropics of Indo-China
03. Alpine
Northward towards Siberia
Interactive Visualization
The Three Migration Routes
The Alpine Corridor
Himalayan-Hengduan -> East Asia (Temperate/Alpine Species)
The Archipelago Bridge
Mainland China <-> Japanese Archipelago
The Tropical Link
SE China (Tropical/Subtropical) -> Indochina Peninsula
The Patterns of Distribution
Discontinuous Patterns
Through analysis of thousands of specimens, Wang proposed sixteen distinct discontinuous distribution patterns for East Asian flora. These patterns suggested specific historical events, such as the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and isolation in climatic refugia.
The Great Hypothesis
His work provided the "great hypotheses" for modern biogeographers. Today, molecular data uses his morphological archive to test how the roof of the world acted as both a cradle for new species and a museum for ancient lineages.