How does plate tectonics affect marine biodiversity?

The influence of plate tectonics on marine biodiversity is significantly attributed to its role in shaping habitats and creating various ecological niches. As tectonic plates move and interact, they can lead to the formation of diverse underwater landscapes, such as seamounts, ridges, and trenches. These geological features provide varied environments that support different marine species, thus enhancing biodiversity.

For instance, areas where tectonic activity occurs, such as hydrothermal vents, create unique ecosystems that host specialized organisms adapted to extreme conditions. The movements of plates can also lead to the fragmentation or merging of landmasses, impacting ocean currents and nutrient distribution, which are essential for sustaining marine life.

This dynamic nature of plate tectonics fosters evolutionary opportunities for species, as new habitats emerge, and existing ones alter, allowing for the adaptation and diversification of marine organisms over geological time scales.

The other options do not accurately reflect the complexities of marine ecosystems and their development influenced by geological processes. While oxygen levels are crucial for marine life, plate tectonics does not directly increase these levels. Similarly, dismissing the impact of plate tectonics as having no effect on marine life overlooks the critical link between geological activity and biological diversity. Lastly, stating that it only affects coastal ecosystems ignores the widespread influence of