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Amazonia through time: Andean uplift, climate change, landscape evolution, and biodiversity.
C Hoorn1, F P Wesselingh, H ter Steege
1Paleoecology and Landscape Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands. carina.hoorn@milne.cc
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 13, 2010
Summary
Andean uplift dramatically reshaped the Amazonian landscape, driving the evolution of its rich biodiversity. This geological event created diverse habitats, leading to the region
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Geology
Background:
- The Amazon rainforest is exceptionally species-rich, but the origins of this diversity remain debated.
- Understanding the evolutionary history requires integrating geological and biological evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the timing and causes of Amazonian biodiversity.
- To correlate geological events, specifically Andean uplift, with ecosystem evolution.
Main Methods:
- Review of geological data from Amazonia and Andean uplift records.
- Analysis of phylogenetic evidence to understand evolutionary timelines.
- Comparison of landscape changes with biodiversity patterns.
Main Results:
- Andean uplift significantly altered Amazonian drainage patterns and sediment influx.
- A diverse edaphic mosaic formed on the Andean substrate, fostering high species richness, especially in Western Amazonia.
- Biodiversity patterns are deeply rooted in pre-Quaternary geological history.
Conclusions:
- Andean uplift was a critical factor in shaping Amazonian landscapes and ecosystems.
- The geological underpinnings of Amazonian biodiversity are ancient, predating the Quaternary period.
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