Researchers from Sorbonne University in Paris have identified a 36-million-year geological cycle that appears to govern the planet’s biodiversity. The findings are reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In their analysis, the team examined long-term fossil records alongside historical sea-level data, applying a comprehensive modeling approach. The results revealed pronounced, repeating patterns that link changes in sea level, the Earth’s internal dynamics, and the history of marine life through deep time.
Throughout this cycle, tectonic processes influence sea levels in ways that shape the availability and scope of habitats on continental shelves and in shallow seas. As water levels rise and fall, expansive or restricted marine environments create opportunities for organisms to proliferate, adapt, or face decline, thereby directing patterns of diversification across eras.
The research presents compelling evidence that tectonic rhythms and global sea-level shifts, driven by the planet’s interior dynamics, have been key determinants of marine biodiversity over millions of years.
These insights support a broader understanding of how the interaction between Earth’s geophysical forces and sea-level change has influenced life on our oceans, highlighting the interconnected nature of geology and biology across deep time.