Mountains also affect biodiversity indirectly. In this scenario, mountains can turn into species pumps that feed the rest of their continents 10. Because biodiversity is often high in a mountain region - a result of high speciation and low extinction - there is a raised likelihood of some species dispersing to other areas. Although the resulting species are often specialized to a small area 3, 9, mountain species can experience lower rates of extinction during climatic changes because they need to move considerably shorter distances to track their optimal temperature range as compared with lowland species 9. As mountain habitats form, speciation bursts occur, driven by the requirement to adapt to the new environment 8. Biodiversity in mountain belts is determined by the interplay between migration, speciation and extinction. Or it may connect land masses, favouring species migration 7. As a mountain chain grows, it may separate previously coherent areas and their populations 6, thus isolating species. They act as barriers to some organisms and bridges to others. Mountains have a direct impact on biodiversity.
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