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PLATE TECTONICSMrs. Page
ESS 2015-2016
Influence on Evolution & Biodiversity
ASSESSMENT STATEMENT:Explain how plate activity has influenced evolution and biodiversity. Speciation through physical barriers Consequences of isolation for evolution Role of activity in generating new and diverse habitats (increasing biodiversity)
EARTH’S INTERIOR• Earth’s Crust sits on top of a convecting mantle
• The upper mantle (asthenosphere) is moving do to convection currents.
• This movement of the mantle causes Earth’s crust to move over time resulting in many of the landforms and geographic events that occur on Earth.
THEORY OF PLATE TECTONICS
Earth’s crust is broken into large pieces called plates
Plates move over time creating many landforms & geologic events such as earthquakes and volcanoes
EARTH THROUGH HISTORY Because Earth’s plates are moving, the
continents have not always been in their present location.
Pangaea – large supercontinent
As continents move apart – physical isolation may occur
Geologic events – volcanoes & earthquakes can bring about loss of habitat and potential loss of species
HISTORY OF MASS EXTINCTIONS Throughout history
there has been several periods of mass extinctions
One theory: Possible large volcanic eruptions blocking sunlight & destroying habitats.
TYPES OF PLATE MOVEMENTSConvergent: pushed togetherDivergent: moving apartTransform: sliding pastWhat happens at plate boundaries can be constructive: building new land (ie: habitats) or destructive; destroying land
CONVERGENT BOUNDARIES (COLLIDING)3 Scenarios:
2 Continents Collide = folded mountains
Could lead to isolation – mountain range separates a population
Creates new habitatBoth constructive (building mountain) and destructive (one plate subducting)
Himalayas
Rocky Mountains
CONVERGENT BOUNDARIES (COLLIDING) 2 Oceanic Plates
Collide More dense plate subducts
Deep sea trench Oceanic Islands New Land formation = new habitat
Aleutian Island Arc: Possibility of future land bridge?? Affect on evolution & biodiversity?
CONVERGENT BOUNDARIES (COLLIDING)1 Continental & 1
Oceanic Plate Collide Oceanic trench off coastline (oceanic plate subducts)
Coastal Volcanic Mountain Range
Cascade Mountain Range – west coast USA Pictured: Mt. St. Helens
Potential mass extinction caused by large volcanic eruptions
DIVERGENT BOUNDARIES (MOVE APART)
Oceanic-oceanicSea floor spreading
Mid Ocean Ridge
DIVERGENT BOUNDARIES (MOVE APART)
Continental-continental
Rift ValleyGeographic Isolation?
African Rift Valley
TRANSFORM BOUNDARIESPlates slide past with friction
EARTHQUAKE ZONES
APPLYExplain how plate tectonics has influenced evolution and biodiversity. Give specific examples.