Final answer:
Fluctuating water levels have greatly affected life on Earth by influencing species distribution and promoting both diversification and isolation, impacting aquatic and terrestrial life through direct and indirect means.
Step-by-step explanation:
Over the Earth's history, fluctuating water levels have significantly influenced the distribution of life forms and are correlated with the evolution of life. For example, during periods of sea level rise, some terrestrial areas are submerged, leading to habitat loss and changes in the distribution of species, as well as creating new aquatic habitats that promote species diversification. Conversely, when sea levels fall, land is exposed, which can form land bridges that allow species to migrate and colonize new areas. Additionally, the changing distribution of water through processes like the melting of glaciers or the change in flowering times of plants can have profound short-term and long-term effects on local ecosystems.
The warming of Earth and the subsequent rise in sea levels have led to the submergence of continental shelves, creating new lakes and rivers. This also impacts human history by isolating populations and driving them to adapt their lifestyles to new food sources, leading to dietary diversification. Changes in water levels, whether rising or falling, impact not only aquatic life but also terrestrial organisms indirectly, often due to the lack of oxygen in waterlogged soils.