Why does the geographic distribution of species support evolution rather than a global flood? Overview of the Question The question arises because certain patterns in how species are distributed across the earth are often interpreted as evidence for macroevolution over vast eons. This interpretation suggests that life branched out gradually, explaining why certain creatures are endemic to isolated islands, unique continental regions, or very specific ecological niches. By contrast, an account of a global flood implies that animal distributions resulted from the departure of all terrestrial creatures from a single region (the location of the ark’s landing). The apparent difficulty is reconciling the current distribution of plants and animals with that scenario. Below are key considerations that address why many propose that geographic distribution supports evolutionary theory rather than a global flood, followed by counterpoints and observations often presented to show how the biblical record and the global flood can be consistent with biological and geological data on species distribution. 1. The Perceived Evolutionary Framework Evolutionary theories, dating back to the works of Charles Darwin (including his observations from the Galápagos Islands), argue that new species arise from common ancestors over time through natural selection, genetic variation, and myriad environmental pressures. The unique assortment of species on remote islands and their similarity/dissimilarity to mainland relatives are widely interpreted as examples of descent with modification. Many in the scientific community see the arrangement of marsupials in Australia, lemurs in Madagascar, and flightless birds in New Zealand as indications of distinct evolutionary paths that emerged while these lands were geographically isolated. They propose that the distributions of these animals fit well into a timeline extending across hundreds of millions of years. 2. Biblical and Historical Testimony of a Global Flood Scripture describes an all-encompassing deluge that covered the highest mountains (Genesis 7:19). This flood, according to the text, destroyed land-dwelling creatures except those preserved on the ark (Genesis 7:23). After the earth was dry, Scripture notes, “Then God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every living creature that is with you…so that they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it’” (Genesis 8:15–17). The biblical account therefore asserts that the distribution of species we see today arises from the creatures that disembarked from a single location (the Mountains of Ararat region, Genesis 8:4). 3. Post-Flood Recolonization and Migration Following the flood, one proposed explanation is that surviving animal “kinds” migrated across newly forming land bridges or through accessible routes. Creation-based research often highlights how a period after the flood could have included an Ice Age, lowering sea levels significantly. This lowered sea level would expose several land bridges—some think particularly about the Bering Land Bridge connecting Asia and North America, or other passageways that may have existed temporarily. These routes could account for the spread of animals to various continents. This viewpoint also proposes that plenty of microevolution or diversification occurred within each created “kind.” Such variation would allow for the rapid appearance of new species or sub-species as those populations adapted to local environments. Since Scripture recognizes natural variation (cf. Genesis 30:37–39, where selective breeding of animals is described), these changes within “kinds” are consistent with a biblical framework, provided that the basic anatomical and genetic boundaries remain intact. 4. Explaining Endemic Species and Island Biogeography A key challenge is understanding why certain species remain exclusive to isolated areas. Some interpret this isolation as unequivocal evidence for macroevolution over countless generations. However, an alternative explanation has been posited: • Rafting or Debris Transport: After catastrophic events, including the flood and subsequent regional upheavals, animals might have traveled to islands on floating vegetation or storm debris. Anecdotal examples exist of living creatures arriving on distant shores after tsunamis or hurricanes passed through. The post-flood world, given its significant geologic and climatic changes, could have had numerous such events. • Extinction and Survival Patterns: Some species that once existed elsewhere could have gone extinct in certain regions, leaving behind populations in remote locations that thrived under less competition or fewer predators. Fossil records show creatures in areas where they no longer live today. These extinct populations become part of the explanation for the uniqueness of lengthily isolated populations. 5. Geological and Archaeological Corroborations Outside the biblical text, flood narratives appear in numerous cultural traditions spanning every inhabited continent. While not all mirror the details of Genesis, they commonly feature themes of a cataclysmic flood from which only a few humans and animals survived. Archaeological and geological studies sometimes unearth evidence of megafloods or massive waterborne sediment deposits across various regions that some interpret as consistent with a large-scale catastrophe. In addition, documented abrupt appearances and disappearances of species in the fossil record may also correlate with cataclysmic events. While mainstream evolutionary theory interprets shifts in fossil assemblages over alleged millions of years, models that posit rapid ecological changes after a global flood look at the same data and argue that they may be explainable by high-energy geologic processes. This approach aligns with the known capacity of intense floods to deposit and sort large amounts of sediment rapidly. 6. Consideration of Continental Arrangements Many geologists, whether in mainstream or more flood-oriented models, concur that continents have shifted in Earth’s history. The mechanics and timing of these shifts, however, differ broadly between old-earth and young-earth contexts. Some suggest that a rapid, catastrophic movement of tectonic plates happened during and shortly after the flood year, allowing for expansions in ocean basins and shaping global landmasses. In that scenario, the migrations of post-flood animals could be compressed into a shorter timeframe. 7. Microevolution vs. Macroevolution Differentiating types of evolution—variation within “kinds” (microevolution) versus emergence of entirely new complex biological structures (macroevolution)—is crucial. Studies in genetics indicate that species can adapt and diversify relatively quickly under the right conditions. Even mainstream evolutionary theory recognizes phenomena of rapid speciation events in small isolated populations. The argument from evolutionary biology states that given enough time, these small changes can accumulate into major evolutionary transitions. Meanwhile, a flood-centered perspective might maintain that dramatic morphological changes requiring entirely novel genetic information are beyond what is observed in real-world experimentation and data. 8. Outside Scholarly Documents and Concepts • Intelligent design research (e.g., work by scientists examining irreducibly complex systems) asserts that certain biological features are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than undirected processes. • Observations of catastrophic geological processes—such as the formation of canyons following the eruption of Mount St. Helens—illustrate how rapidly landscapes and ecosystems can transform, offering modern analogies for large-scale events in Earth’s past. • Fossil graveyards, discovered worldwide, show large accumulations of remains preserved in waterborne sediment. Some interpret these findings as consistent with sudden, widespread flooding rather than slow, gradual processes. 9. Integration with Scriptural Theology Scripture recounts, “The fear and dread of you will fall on every beast of the earth…they are given into your hand” (Genesis 9:2). This post-flood passage suggests a reorganization of relationships between animal life and humanity. It also indicates that creatures dispersed with new breeding, dietary, and survival patterns. Because the biblical timeline places these events only a few thousand years ago, much of the debate centers on whether rapid speciation and adaptive radiation can plausibly account for today’s biodiversity if we start from a smaller number of “kinds.” Proponents highlight examples of artificial selection (like the extraordinary variety of dog breeds descended from wolves) to demonstrate how swiftly traits can diversify under selective pressures. 10. Concluding Thoughts Many hold that geographically distinct species distributions support an evolutionary framework of descent with modification over millions of years. However, others posit that such distributions can be explained by post-flood migration, loss of genetic diversity in some regions, rapid speciation within each original animal kind, and localized extinctions that shaped the present biodiversity. In the broader context, this question is not merely about examining fossils or critters in far-flung habitats. It touches on interpretations of world history, biblical authority, and the viability of short vs. long timescales. The biblical record points to a series of rapid, global, and miraculous events, including creation, flood, and repopulation of the earth. When examining data through that lens, the distribution of species can be seen to fit a catastrophic model of earth history. Those exploring these ideas further often consult comprehensive works on flood geology, intelligent design arguments, and the nuances of microevolutionary change to see if these phenomena align more consistently with a biblical account than is commonly assumed. In the end, the discussion involves both observable science and theological presuppositions about the world’s ultimate origins, purpose, and destiny. “…the earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1) |
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