Ecological changes have driven biotic exchanges across the Indian Ocean

Abstract

The Indian Ocean has a complex geological history that has drawn the attention of naturalists for almost a century now. Due to its tectonic history, many geological elements and processes have been evoked to explain the exchange of species between landmasses. Here, we revisited previous studies on twenty-three taxa to investigate trends across time since the Gondwana breakup. We investigated these datasets by applying a time-calibrated Bayesian framework to them and reconstructing their ancestral ranges. We conclude that ecological transformations have presented opportunities for the establishment of migrants. The role of donating and receiving migrants has shifted several times according to these transformations. Time-specific trends show weak evidence for the stepping-stones commonly suggested as physical routes between landmasses. However, before its collision with Asia, India may have served as an intermediary for such exchanges.