12.3 Plate tectonics and the evolution of life
3 min read•august 16, 2024
Plate tectonics shapes life on Earth in profound ways. It creates and destroys habitats, influences , and drives evolution. From forming physical barriers to altering climate patterns, tectonic processes play a crucial role in biodiversity.
separates landmasses, isolating populations and promoting speciation. It also creates land bridges, facilitating species dispersal. These processes contribute to unique biogeographic regions and influence the global distribution of plant and animal families.
Plate tectonics and life distribution
Habitat creation and destruction
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- Plate tectonics drives creation and destruction of habitats influences species distribution and adaptation
- Alters global climate patterns affects evolution of organisms in different regions
- Creates physical barriers (mountains, oceans) leads to allopatric speciation
- Volcanic activity at plate boundaries introduces new minerals and nutrients impacts local biodiversity
- at mid-ocean ridges creates new habitats for deep-sea organisms influences ocean circulation patterns
Unique environments and population dynamics
- Subduction zones and associated island arcs provide environments for evolution of endemic species
- Breakup and collision of continents results in mixing or isolation of previously separated populations drives evolutionary processes
- Formation and breakup of supercontinents (Pangaea) impacts global biodiversity patterns and distribution of major taxonomic groups
- Contributes to development of unique biogeographic regions isolation and distinctive fauna of Australia
- Collision of continents results in mixing of previously isolated biotas leads to competition, extinction, and
Continental drift and species dispersal
Land mass separation and connections
- Continental drift separates once-contiguous landmasses isolates populations and promotes speciation
- Creates land bridges and corridors facilitates dispersal of terrestrial species across vast distances
- Changes ocean currents and wind patterns influences dispersal of marine organisms and terrestrial plant species
- Vicariance events caused by continental drift lead to development of sister taxa on different continents provides evidence for evolutionary relationships
Biogeographic impacts
- Contributes to development of unique biogeographic regions isolation and distinctive fauna of Australia
- Collision of continents results in mixing of previously isolated biotas leads to competition, extinction, and adaptive radiation
- Influences global distribution of plant families (Proteaceae found in Australia, South Africa, and South America)
- Affects migration patterns of terrestrial and marine species (annual whale migrations between feeding and breeding grounds)
Plate tectonics and ecosystem diversity
Terrestrial ecosystem formation
- Uplift of due to plate collision creates diverse altitudinal zones unique climatic conditions and associated ecosystems
- Rift valleys formed by plate divergence lead to development of unique aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (African Great Lakes)
- Volcanic islands created by hotspots or subduction zones provide isolated environments for evolution of novel ecosystems and endemic species (Galapagos Islands)
- Formation of sedimentary basins through plate tectonic processes results in development of diverse wetland and coastal ecosystems (Amazon Basin)
Marine ecosystem impacts
- Creation and destruction of shallow seas due to plate movements impacts marine biodiversity and evolution of reef ecosystems
- Hydrothermal vent systems associated with seafloor spreading create unique chemosynthetic ecosystems supports diverse and specialized organisms (giant tube worms, thermophilic bacteria)
- Influences global ocean circulation patterns affects nutrient distribution and marine productivity (upwelling zones off the coast of Peru)
- Shapes coastlines and continental shelves creates diverse marine habitats (Great Barrier Reef)
Mass extinctions vs plate tectonics
Tectonic-driven extinction events
- Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) associated with major plate tectonic events linked to several impacts global climate and ocean chemistry
- Breakup and collision of continents leads to changes in ocean circulation patterns triggers global climate shifts and associated mass extinctions
- Massive volcanic eruptions at continental margins releases large amounts of greenhouse gases and aerosols affects global climate and biodiversity (Deccan Traps eruptions)
- Formation of land bridges facilitates spread of diseases or invasive species contributes to regional or global extinctions
Environmental changes and recovery
- Changes in sea level associated with plate tectonic events alters coastal habitats and marine ecosystems leads to mass extinctions in these environments
- Impact of extraterrestrial bodies (asteroids) influenced by configuration of tectonic plates affects severity and global distribution of extinction events (Chicxulub impact)
- Recovery and diversification of life following mass extinctions shaped by new environmental conditions and habitats created by ongoing plate tectonic processes
- Plate tectonic activity influences global climate patterns contributes to formation of various biomes and ecosystems across the Earth (ice ages, greenhouse periods)
Key Terms to Review (20)
Adaptive radiation: Adaptive radiation is the evolutionary process in which a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environmental niches. This phenomenon often occurs when a species colonizes a new habitat or after a mass extinction event, allowing for the exploitation of unoccupied ecological roles. The rapid evolution of new traits and adaptations leads to increased biodiversity, shaping ecosystems over time.
Continental Drift: Continental drift is the theory that continents have moved slowly over geological time from their original positions to their current locations. This concept helps explain the formation of continents and ocean basins, as well as the distribution of various geological features and living organisms across the globe.
Convergent Boundary: A convergent boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates move toward each other, often resulting in one plate being forced beneath the other in a process known as subduction. This interaction leads to significant geological features and phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain building, reflecting the dynamic nature of Earth's lithosphere.
Divergent boundary: A divergent boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and create new crust. This process plays a crucial role in the formation of ocean basins and rift valleys, contributing to the geological features and topography of Earth.
Habitat fragmentation: Habitat fragmentation refers to the process by which larger habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches, often due to human activities like urban development, agriculture, and infrastructure expansion. This fragmentation can disrupt ecosystems and biodiversity by isolating species, making it harder for them to find food, mates, and migrate. The effects of habitat fragmentation are critical in understanding the broader implications of environmental changes on the evolution of life.
Mantle convection: Mantle convection is the slow, continuous movement of the Earth's mantle caused by the heat from the core, driving the flow of material and facilitating plate tectonics. This process is essential in shaping geological features and driving the movement of tectonic plates, which affects everything from the formation of mountains to volcanic activity.
Mass extinction events: Mass extinction events are periods in Earth's history when a significant, rapid loss of biodiversity occurs, leading to the extinction of a large number of species across various ecosystems. These events often coincide with drastic environmental changes, which can be linked to geological phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, climate shifts, or impacts from extraterrestrial objects. Understanding mass extinctions helps reveal the interconnectedness of plate tectonics and the evolution of life on Earth.
Mesozoic Era: The Mesozoic Era is a geologic time period that lasted from about 252 to 66 million years ago, known as the 'Age of Reptiles' because it was dominated by dinosaurs and other reptiles. This era is marked by significant geological, climatic, and biological changes that played a crucial role in shaping the modern world.
Mountain Ranges: Mountain ranges are a series of peaks and ridges formed by tectonic forces, where the Earth's crust is uplifted, folded, or faulted. They are often associated with the collision of tectonic plates, resulting in distinct geological features and ecosystems that influence both the landscape and climate.
Ocean trenches: Ocean trenches are deep, narrow depressions in the ocean floor that occur at convergent plate boundaries where one tectonic plate is being subducted beneath another. These features are significant as they represent some of the deepest parts of the ocean and are closely associated with geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. They play a crucial role in the recycling of Earth's materials and can influence both marine ecosystems and the evolution of landscapes over time.
Paleomagnetism: Paleomagnetism is the study of the magnetic properties of rocks and sediments to understand the history of Earth's magnetic field and plate movements. This field reveals how the orientation of magnetic minerals in rocks reflects their position relative to the magnetic poles over time, providing insights into seafloor spreading, continental drift, and past tectonic configurations.
Paleozoic Era: The Paleozoic Era is a major geological time period that lasted from about 541 to 252 million years ago, characterized by significant developments in Earth's geology and biology. This era saw the formation of extensive mountain ranges, the diversification of marine life, and the colonization of land by plants and animals, making it crucial for understanding both geological processes and biological evolution.
Pangea: Pangea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, around 335 to 175 million years ago. It brought together almost all the Earth's landmasses into a single landmass, significantly influencing geological and biological evolution through plate tectonics and climate changes.
Radiometric Dating: Radiometric dating is a scientific method used to determine the age of rocks, fossils, and other materials by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes within them. This technique is crucial for understanding geological processes, including the formation of continents and ocean basins, the mechanisms of seafloor spreading, and the historical development of plate tectonics. By providing precise age estimates, radiometric dating helps connect geological events with biological evolution and climate changes over Earth's history.
Seafloor Spreading: Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates move apart. This geological phenomenon plays a crucial role in the formation of ocean basins and influences various tectonic activities, including the generation of rift valleys and the distribution of magnetic anomalies on the seafloor.
Species distribution: Species distribution refers to the geographic range and abundance of different species across various environments and ecosystems. This concept is crucial in understanding how species interact with their surroundings, adapt to different ecological conditions, and the factors that influence their population dynamics, including climate, geography, and the influence of tectonic movements.
The Great Permian Extinction: The Great Permian Extinction was a massive global extinction event that occurred approximately 252 million years ago, leading to the loss of around 90% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species. This event marked the boundary between the Permian and Triassic periods and had profound effects on the evolution of life on Earth, reshaping ecosystems and paving the way for the dominance of dinosaurs in the Mesozoic era.
Theory of plate tectonics: The theory of plate tectonics is a scientific framework explaining the movement of the Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath. This theory connects various geological phenomena, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain building, to the interactions between these plates. Understanding this theory helps explain mechanisms driving plate motion, its implications for natural hazards and environmental management, as well as its impact on the evolution of life on Earth.
Transform boundary: A transform boundary is a type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally. This movement creates friction and can lead to significant seismic activity, often resulting in earthquakes, as the plates get stuck and release energy suddenly when they finally move.
Volcanoes: Volcanoes are geological formations that occur when molten rock, ash, and gases escape from beneath the Earth's crust, creating eruptions. They are closely linked to the movement of tectonic plates and play a crucial role in shaping landscapes and influencing ecosystems.