What effect does plate tectonics have on organic evolution?

The Grand Canyon's squirrel population serves as an illustration of geographic isolation; due to their geographic isolation, the north side of the canyon's squirrel population has grown larger, developed denser fur, and developed a darker coat than the south side.

A prime example are the finches of the Galapogos Islands, which are geographically isolated from those on the mainland due to plate tectonics. This isolation has protected the island's finches from competition, allowing them to occupy ecological niches that are occupied by other species on the mainland. It is estimated that there are thirteen species of finches on the Galapogas Islands.

The 13 species of finches actually should be considered subspecies as the finches are observed to interbreed and form hybrids; the isolated species have not become new species. However, the squirrels are still squirrels and could interbreed if they were not isolated.

Plate tectonics affects organic evolution, which changes species, but not Darwinian evolution, which creates new species. Plate tectonics creates geographic isolation that can cause changes with species but does not create new species.

Plate tectonics influence organic evolution by creating and altering habitats, leading to speciation, extinction events, and the formation of barriers to gene flow. Additionally, tectonic activity can affect climate, sea levels, and nutrient availability, all of which influence the evolution of organisms.