What effect does platae tectonics have on evolution of new species?

Answer 1

If a land mass separates and moves many miles away from it's parent land mass you will possibly split apart a species that lived in the vicinity. Geographic isolation ensues and any mutations that happen in the two populations now statistically vary and can not enter a common gene pool, but enter each separate gene pool. This can cause allele frequencies to change in the separate gene pools, among other processes, to begin new species.

Answer 2

Plate tectonics influence the evolution of new species by creating and changing habitats, altering landscapes, and influencing climate patterns. These shifts in the Earth's plates can separate populations, leading to genetic isolation and ultimately speciation over time. Additionally, tectonic activity can cause changes in sea levels and the formation of barriers, which can further drive evolution by promoting adaptation to new environments.