Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms?

1. Continental drift

2. Glacial cycles

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The Correct Answer is Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

• ​Continental drift theory deals with the distribution of the oceans and the continents.
  • According to the theory, all the continents formed a single continental mass- Pangea and mega ocean- Panthalassa surrounded it.
  • Pangaea started splitting and broke down into two large continental masses as Laurasia and Gondwanaland forming the northern and southern components respectively.
  • Subsequently, Laurasia and Gondwanaland continued to break into various smaller continents that exist today.
• The Continental drift must have moved some animals from one continent to others and few getting stuck in the same place, which must have influenced the evolution.
• Glacial cycles would affect evolution as many might not able to tolerate extreme cold and would have extincted.
  • The rise in sea level due to glacial melt also might have affected the evolution of organisms.