Plate tectonics is really important for how animals and plants live all over the world. Here’s how it works:
Geographic Isolation: When tectonic plates move, continents can drift away from each other. This can lead to certain species being cut off from others. For example, when South America moved away from Africa, some unique animals and plants evolved there that are not found anywhere else.
Habitat Creation: The movement of these plates makes mountains, rift valleys, and ocean basins. These new places create different homes for many types of living things. Each habitat supports various life forms in its own special way.
Climate Influence: Where the continents are affects the flow of ocean currents and the weather. This can change the kinds of ecosystems, or communities of living things, in each area and how many different types of life they can support.
Evolutionary Pressure: When species get isolated or their homes change, it puts pressure on them to adapt. This process, called natural selection, helps create new species. That's why we see different kinds of life in different places.
In summary, the way our planet changes helps create a rich variety of life all around the world!
Plate tectonics is really important for how animals and plants live all over the world. Here’s how it works:
Geographic Isolation: When tectonic plates move, continents can drift away from each other. This can lead to certain species being cut off from others. For example, when South America moved away from Africa, some unique animals and plants evolved there that are not found anywhere else.
Habitat Creation: The movement of these plates makes mountains, rift valleys, and ocean basins. These new places create different homes for many types of living things. Each habitat supports various life forms in its own special way.
Climate Influence: Where the continents are affects the flow of ocean currents and the weather. This can change the kinds of ecosystems, or communities of living things, in each area and how many different types of life they can support.
Evolutionary Pressure: When species get isolated or their homes change, it puts pressure on them to adapt. This process, called natural selection, helps create new species. That's why we see different kinds of life in different places.
In summary, the way our planet changes helps create a rich variety of life all around the world!