Final answer:
The breakup of Pangaea led to geographic isolation, which facilitated speciation and the development of distinct regional biotas. This process is supported by biogeographic patterns and is regarded as a key factor in the diversification of life on Earth. option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The breakup of Pangaea had a significant impact on evolution and the diversity of life on Earth. With the separation of the supercontinent into smaller land masses, geographic isolation played a critical role in the development of unique faunas and floras on the different continents.
This process led to speciation, where species diverged and adapted to their new environments. In contrast to options A, B, and D, option C best describes the evolutionary effect of Pangaea's breakup, as geographic isolation is a fundamental mechanism in the formation of new species through evolutionary processes.
Biogeography, which studies the distribution of organisms, further supports this concept by illustrating how groups of organisms that evolved before the breakup are now found worldwide, while groups that evolved after the breakup are unique to certain regions due to their separation and independent evolutionary paths.
The distribution of the plant family Proteaceae across different southern continents is an example of this pattern.
Major climatic changes, shifts in the environment, and catastrophic events such as mass extinctions throughout Earth's history also influenced the trajectory of evolution. Particularly after the Permian mass extinction, new niches emerged and provided opportunities for diversification among survivors. Option C,