• DOI:10.1002/9781118786352.WBIEG0638
• Corpus ID: 135155273

Plate Tectonics in Biogeography

@inproceedings{Trewick2017PlateTI,
  title={Plate Tectonics in Biogeography},
  author={Steven A. Trewick},
  year={2017}
}

• S. Trewick
• Published 6 March 2017
• Environmental Science, Geography

The position and movement of tectonic plates, some of which emerge through the oceans as land, influences the distribution of life on Earth. Separation and connection of land and ocean have long been viewed as central to biogeography because they can influence the distribution of species through biological exchange. More precisely, changes in the continuity of habitats can influence rates of gene flow among populations (a process studied as vicariance) and thus affect patterns of speciation and ecological assemblage. Features including land bridges, sea barriers, and mountain ranges join or sunder populations. Deep-sea hydrothermal vents, volcanic islands, and changes in topography resulting from plate tectonics influence environmental conditions that in turn may mediate evolution. Modern biogeographic research is focused on identifying how environmental factors influence evolution at the species level; this is essential if we are to interpret the outcome of past processes.

Keywords:

biogeography;
geographic distribution;
nature;
paleoenvironments and paleoenvironmental change;
tectonics and volcanism