And the Appalachians are an ancient mountain group, dating back to around
240 million years if I remember correctly as the supercontinent Pangaea was
breaking up. They also have never been glaciated in that period of time. One
example of this long-term stability is that much of the Tennessee River has
been in its current basin for around 80 million years.
--Bruce Stallsmith
Huntsville, AL, US of A
>From: Irate Mormon <archimedes-in-bayspringstel.net>
>Reply-To: nanfa-in-aquaria.net
>To: "nanfa-in-aquaria.net" <nanfa-in-aquaria.net>
>Subject: RE: NANFA-- exotic species impact
>Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 22:57:10 -0400
>
>Quoting Bruce Stallsmith <fundulus-in-hotmail.com>:
>
> > The Rockies have
> > been rising for the last 25 million years or so, which has separated
> > watersheds for a period of time.
>
>I thought isolation often results in high diversity?? Or maybe I am
>thinking of
>endemism. In the east we have the Appalachians - why is diversity higher
>there?
> Because of the age difference?
>
>--Irate
> Charter member, DNRC
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