THEORY OF LAND

BRIDGES
LAND BRIDGE HYPOTHESIS
• This hypothesis is based on the presence of intercontinental land-
bridges in the geological past.
• It’s major tenets are:
1. Initially some continents were connected by together by land-bridges.
2. These land- bridges allowed the exchange of plants and animals
between the connected regions. Thus, some species got distributed in
different continents.
 3.In course of time, the land-bridges sank deep in the sea, resulting in
discountinuity in the distribution of some species.

• A major short-coming of this hypothesis is that it upholds the sinking

of land-bridges.
• In reality, genuine land-bridges never sink, but float in the sea.
• Simpson has classified land-bridges in to three kinds,

• Corridors
• Filter bridges
• Sweepstake bridges
CORRIDORS

• Corridor is a broad intercontinental land connection which permits extensive exchange of flora and
fauna between the connected continents.
• It forms an open and free migration route that permits more or less uninhibited faunal interchange.
• Through corridors, many or most of the animals of a faunal rwgion can migrate to another.
• Migration along corridors is thus unobstructed and rapid.
• Land bridges are typical examples of corridors.
• A dispersal corridor has long existed between Western Europe and China via central Asia
THANK YOU
Sulha M
123
5 th sem Botany