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Macroevolution in relation to the drift models of the Indian plate

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Nature at Work: Ongoing Saga of Evolution

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Abstract

Macroevolutionary processes, that operate at larger than gene-level evolution, seeks to explain evolutionary processes and patterns of higher taxonomic categories and their phylogenesis. Species multiplication and their radiations, involving several examples of evolutionary novelties are being focused through refinement of DNA sequencing, which are suggestive of dating divergence events. Trends towards linking genetic shifts through space and time are increasingly being associated with paleontology, tectonics and climatic patterns. The fossil records are now better supplemented through information on rifting and colliding landmasses, which help explaining the biogeography and biodiversity changes. The Indian raft exemplifies admixtures of the Cretaceous endemic and Laurasiatic affinities; while the collision of India-Asia landmasses is initiated by thermal maxima phases of Late Palaeocene-Early Eocene; and mammalian diversification happened in the northern Indian landmass in response to progressive land emergence and Tethyan sea withdrawals. Strong trends in fluctuations in biodiversity of mammals in response to orbital forcing and climatic shifts are observed during periods of glaciation and preglaciation during Miocene and later intervals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Ashok Sahni & R. S. Loyal

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  1. Ashok Sahni
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  2. R. S. Loyal
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  1. CRDT, IIT, Delhi, India

    Vinod P. Sharma

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Sahni, A., Loyal, R.S. (2010). Macroevolution in relation to the drift models of the Indian plate. In: Sharma, V.P. (eds) Nature at Work: Ongoing Saga of Evolution. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-8489-992-4_17

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