Tracing the Roots of Global Biodiversity : How Earth’s Changing Landscapes Shaped Species Diversity

The results show that plate tectonics and paleoclimate were the dominant forces behind the emergence and persistence of the Latitudinal Diversity Gradient (LDG), while surface processes such as topography, rivers, and hydrology mainly influenced regional diversity patterns. The LDG, already established by the Cretaceous, became steeper and more stable during the Cenozoic, reflecting long-term interactions between environmental stability, ecological opportunity, and evolutionary processes. The tropics consistently acted both as a cradle for new species and a refuge preserving ancient lineages, while higher latitudes experienced more frequent extinctions and turnover.

This research offers a deep-time perspective on how Earth’s moving continents, climate shifts, and landscape complexity structured biodiversity over millions of years, providing insights into the long-term origins of the world’s richest ecosystems and the resilience of tropical regions.