Andean uplift and consequences for species evolution in the Amazon drainage basin

The Neogene uplift of the Andes strongly influenced environments, geography, and climate through time. In combination with global climate, sea level change and dynamic topography, this process (re)shaped the biogeography of the Amazon drainage basin. The western Amazon, was formed by a vast wetland that was controlled by orbital forcing and episodic marine influence, with dispersal of coastal flora and fauna into the Amazon heartlands. As uplift accelerated, the effects extended across the continent, leading to the birth of the Amazon River and sediment transport across continent and into the Atlantic. The river formed a bridge and a barrier for biotic dispersal but also affected the coastal environment. Here I will review recent geological and paleobiological data to illustrate the effects of geological change on neotropical biogeography.

References:

Hoorn, C., Palazzesi, L. and Silvestro, D., 2022. Editorial Preface to Special Issue: Exploring the impact of Andean uplift and climate on life evolution and landscape modification: From Amazonia to Patagonia. Global and Planetary Change, 211, p.103759. doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2022.103759

Hoorn, C., Boschman, L.M., Kukla, T., Sciumbata, M. and Val, P., 2022. The Miocene wetland of western Amazonia and its role in Neotropical biogeography. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 199(1), pp.25-35. doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boab098

Hoorn, C., Kukla, T., Bogotá-Angel, G., van Soelen, E., González-Arango, C., Wesselingh, F.P., Vonhof, H., Val, P., Morcote-Rios, G., Roddaz, M. and Dantas, E.L., 2022. Cyclic sediment deposition by orbital forcing in the Miocene wetland of western Amazonia? New insights from a multidisciplinary approach. Global and Planetary Change, 210, p.103717. doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2021.103717