Andes Mountains - The 'Species Pump' Of South America
Friday, January 9, 2009 - 19:14
in Paleontology & Archaeology
South America is the world’s most species-rich area and there have been many theories as to why, ranging from animals and plants accompanying the continent when it broke loose from Africa to variations in the extent of the rainforests over millions of years creating new species. A thesis from a Gothenburg University doctoral student proposes a different theory: that the formation of the Andes was a 'species pump' which spread animals and plants across the continent. read more
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