New research reveals geological cycles that trigger an explosion of new life every 36 million years
New study reveals 36-million-year geological cycle is the driver of biodiversity
New research has revealed the existence of a 36-million-year geological cycle that drives biodiversity on Earth. Scientists, including geologists from the University of Sydney, have found that movements in Earth’s tectonic plates indirectly trigger a patterned biodiversity boom. cycle by affecting sea level.
Scientists, including geologists from the University of Sydney, have found that the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates indirectly causes an explosion of biodiversity by triggering a shift in Earth’s tectonic plates. fluctuations in sea level.
Through extensive research and analysis of the fossil record spanning 250 million years, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Slah Boulila from the Sorbonne University, Paris has demonstrated that sea-level change cycles This geologically driven role plays an important role in the formation of diversity. of marine species.
As sea levels rise and fall due to tectonic activity, various habitats on continental shelves and shallow seas undergo expansion and contraction. These environmental changes create opportunities for organisms to thrive or perish. By examining the fossil record, scientists have identified a correlation between these cycles and the emergence of new life forms.
The findings of this study were published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Professor Dietmar Müller, co-author of the study from the School of Geosciences at the University of Sydney, explains: «Tectonically, the 36-million-year cycle marks the shift between rapid seafloor spreading. and slower, resulting in cyclic depth. changes in ocean basins and during tectonic water transfer into the deep ground.
“These in turn have led to fluctuations in flooding and drying of continents, with extensive shallow sea periods promoting biodiversity.
The team’s analysis was performed using GPlates, a plate tectonics software developed by the EarthByte Group at the University of Sydney and supported by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). ) of Australia through AuScope.
The researchers drew their conclusions from the discovery of remarkably similar cycles in sea level changes, Earth’s internal mechanisms, and marine fossil records. The clear evidence gathered from this study confirms that tectonic cycles and global sea level changes, due to Earth’s dynamics, played a pivotal role in the formation of biodiversity of marine life over millions of years.
Professor Müller added: “This study challenges previous ideas about why species change over long periods of time. The cycles last 36 million years due to regular patterns in how tectonic plates are recycled into the convective mantle, the mobile part of the deep Earth, similar to thick, hot soup in a pot, moving slow moving.”
A compelling example in support of these findings is the Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. This formation, famous for its wealth of precious opal and dinosaur fossils, provides valuable insights into the era when a significant portion of mainland Australia was submerged. Fluctuating sea levels during this period created ecological niches that widened and narrowed in shallow seas, providing unique habitats that supported a diverse range of species.
Professor Müller added: “The Winton Formation of the Cretaceous period is testament to the profound impact of these sea level changes, capturing the moment when Australia’s landscape was transformed and the creatures were fascinating. roam this land.
Source: 10.1073/pnas.2221149120
Image credit: Shutterstock
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