Matthew's (1915) climate and evolution, the New York School of Biogeography, and the rise and fall of Holarcticism

Climate and evolution (Matthew, 1915) represents an important contribution to evolutionary biogeography, that influenced several authors, notably Karl P. Schmidt, George S. Myers, George G. Simpson, Philip J. Darlington, Ernst Mayr, Thomas Barbour, John C. Poynton, Allen Keast, Leon Croizat, Robin Craw, Michael Heads, and Osvaldo A. Reig. Authors belonging to the New York School of Zoogeography -a research community including Matthew, Schmidt, Myers and Simpson- accepted Matthew's Holarcticism (north temperate centers of origin) and the permanence of ocean basins and continents, whereas others, especially panbiogeographers and cladistic biogeographers, were extremely critical and reacted against these ideas. Holarcticism has been falsified and rejected by dispersalists and the New York School of Zoogeography disappeared in the 1970s. Matthew, however, continues being identified by panbiogeographers and cladistic biogeographers as a key representative of classic dispersalism, helping provide some cohesion to their research communities.

Automated summary

"Climate and Evolution" by Matthew, published in 1915, made significant contributions to evolutionary biogeography and influenced several authors in the field. While some of the theories proposed in the book have been criticized and rejected by certain scholars, Matthew is still regarded as a key representative of classic dispersalism.