Eyal Marder and Colleagues Publish Study on Link Between Mountain Formation and Biodiversity
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A new study co-authored by scientists at Indiana University (IU)—including Eyal Marder, a post-doctoral researcher in the College of Natural Sciences's Department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences and a former IU post-doctoral fellow—argues that the same tectonic forces responsible for building mountain ranges also play a key role in generating biodiversity.
By linking geological activity to patterns of evolution, the research—recently published in Science—sheds new light on why mountainous regions are often rich in unique species. The findings suggest that over millions of years, tectonic processes have helped shape the evolutionary journeys of many organisms.
An Earth.com article explains how the use of AdaScape, a "specialized model that allows for virtual representations of the Earth’s surface and how it changes," allowed the researchers to conclude that "certain mountainous areas can act like 'cradles' of new biodiversity. A species of rodent-like mammals in the model, for instance, split into multiple distinct species as soon as the mountains rose and created different environmental niches."
“This study gives us new insights into how Earth’s physical processes influence the diversity of life. It also highlights how ongoing geological changes could continue to impact biodiversity in the future."
— Eyal Marder speaking with Earth.com