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Science 4 December 1987:
Vol. 238. no. 4832, pp. 1398 - 1401
DOI: 10.1126/science.238.4832.1398
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Articles

Fluvial Perturbance in the Western Amazon Basin: Regulation by Long-Term Sub-Andean Tectonics

MATTI E. RÄSÄNEN 1, JUKKA S. SALO 2, and RISTO J. KALLIOLA 2

1 Department of Quaternary Geology, University of Turku, SF-20500 Turku, Finland.
2 Department of Biology, University of Turku, SF-20500 Turku, Finland.

Haffer's refuge theory proposes that during the arid climatic phases of the late Pleistocene, tropical lowland forests of Amazonia were reduced to isolated patches contributing to the high species richness of the present-day forest. The theory was developed because no obvious historic or modern geomorphic isolation barriers were recorded in Amazonia. Analyses of radar images combined with stratigraphical data show that in the basinal forelands of the tectonically active Andes the geological setting causes long-term fluvial perturbance. This leads to a temporally structured highly complex mosaic of fossil and present floodplains. These dynamics have been present with varying activity and geographic range during the Tertiary and Quaternary, providing site-turnover that has not been recognized by the biogeographic tradition of the Amazon basin.

Submitted on May 5, 1987
Accepted on September 10, 1987


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)