Quakes shape diversity distribution?

  • 11/03/2002

  • Deccan Herald (Bangalore)

A cursory glance at a world map shows an interesting pattern on plant and animals density. Most of the species are amassed in some specific biological hotspots. But barely anybody thought about the skewed distribution pattern that dominates species diversity around the planet. Even Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, paid little attention to the fascinating but under-studied issue of why species diversity is found in some specified areas. Scientists believe that within biologically rich tropical belts, spatial distribution of biological diversity about by tectonic activities like earthquakes and volcanoes.