How has the movement of the continents affected the distribution of species?

Present distribution patterns of animals are largely brought about as a result of shifting land masses. When the continents separated they took their species and when animals with a common ancestor are isolated from their sister groups, they tend to develop their own independent evolution.

1. What are the effects of the movement of the continents?
2. How does continental drift affects the evolution and distribution of species?
3. How do you think the movement of the continents affects the environment and ecosystems?
4. How does continental drift affected organisms?
5. Do movement of continents play an important factor in the so called?
6. Do movements of continents play an important factor in the so called climate change?
7. How the geographical distribution of species provides evidence for evolution?
8. Why some animal distributions are particular to certain continents?
9. How does continental drift and the theory of plate tectonics relate to the global distribution of biota?
10. How can tectonic plates moving apart affect species and biodiversity?
11. How plate movement can affect climate?
12. What would be one of the greatest effect to climate from the movement of continents by plate tectonics?
13. How does the latitude of the continents alter the rock cycle?
14. How did changes in continental boundaries impact climate 20 million years ago?
15. What is geographical distribution?
16. How is geography evidence for evolution?
17. How does geological data support evolution?

What are the effects of the movement of the continents?

The movement of these tectonic plates is likely caused by convection currents in the molten rock in Earth's mantle below the crust. Earthquakes and volcanoes are the short-term results of this tectonic movement.

How does continental drift affects the evolution and distribution of species?

The drifting apart of tectonic plates is the sort of event that could cause speciation. If the splitting of the land and of the species on it do coincide, the result is two species occupying complementary parts of a formerly continuous area that was occupied by their common ancestor.

How do you think the movement of the continents affects the environment and ecosystems?

In 1970, James Valentine and Eldridge Moores of the University of California suggested that broken-up continents would create more ecological niches and promote favorable climate and environmental conditions that are conducive to biodiversity. ...

How does continental drift affected organisms?

Organisms evolve to exist better in their environments, and new conditions brought about by continental drift promote new conditions in which organisms evolve. A population may become split, and with no physical communication, a single species may differentiate into various and far different types of animals or plants.

Do movement of continents play an important factor in the so called?

Less greenhouse gas means that less heat is trapped in Earth's atmosphere. But changes in Earth's atmosphere cannot explain the full extent of global cooling or periods of acute change. ... In other words, so-called tectonic forces—the drifting and collisions of Earth's tectonic plates—may lead to climate changes.

Do movements of continents play an important factor in the so called climate change?

Hence, over geological timescales the movement of plates and continents has a profound effect on the distribution of land masses, mountain ranges and the connectivity of the oceans. As a consequence, plate tectonics has a very direct and fundamental influence on global climate.

How the geographical distribution of species provides evidence for evolution?

Biogeography, the study of the geographical distribution of organisms, provides information about how and when species may have evolved. Fossils provide evidence of long-term evolutionary changes, documenting the past existence of species that are now extinct.

Why some animal distributions are particular to certain continents?

Some animal distributions are particular to certain continents. ... Animals need certain resources to survive, and when these resources become rare during certain parts of the year animals tend to “clump” together around these crucial resources.

How does continental drift and the theory of plate tectonics relate to the global distribution of biota?

The founding concept of continental drift was that most of the Earth's land had formerly been con- nected in a single supercontinent (Pangea). ... Mass extinctions across the globe radically altered biotas and dispersal between continents influenced regional biotic composition through time.

How can tectonic plates moving apart affect species and biodiversity?

The presence or absence of plate tectonics has a profound effect on especially the evolution of advanced organisms. A planet with life and plate tectonics favors development of a more diverse biosphere that is more likely to include a technological species than an otherwise similar planet lacking plate tectonics.

How plate movement can affect climate?

The movement of the plates also causes volcanoes and mountains to form and these can also contribute to a change in climate. Large mountain chains can influence the circulation of air around the globe, and consequently influence the climate. For example, warm air may be deflected to cooler regions by mountains.

What would be one of the greatest effect to climate from the movement of continents by plate tectonics?

The main effects from plate tectonics are the uplift of mountains which results in snow covered mountains. These increase planetary albedo cooling the planet.

How does the latitude of the continents alter the rock cycle?

If continents are moved to high latitudes, more ice sheets form and sea level falls. ... Increased sea floor spreading causes sea level rise since newly formed ocean crust will "float" higher on the mantle decreasing the volume of ocean basins.

How did changes in continental boundaries impact climate 20 million years ago?

Twenty million years ago the Indian and Asian continental plates clashed and pushed up the massive Tibetan plateau. In summer this plateau acts as a huge heat engine, absorbing solar energy which it transfers to the atmosphere, causing immense convection currents.

What is geographical distribution?

Definition of geographical distribution

: the natural arrangement and apportionment of the various forms of animals and plants in the different regions and localities of the earth.

How is geography evidence for evolution?

The geographic distribution of organisms on Earth follows patterns that are best explained by evolution, in combination with the movement of tectonic plates over geological time.

How does geological data support evolution?

Geology played a major role in Darwin's life and scientific work: The formation of volcanoes, the slow subsidence of coral reefs, the rising of the Andes by earthquakes, the fossil relatives to modern species in South America, these geological observations enabled Darwin to grasp two fundaments needed for his ...