High-elevation orogenic plateau influences ecosystems

The interactions between plate tectonic processes and ecosystems are well-documented, but the precise influence of tectonic evolution on ecosystems remains elusive. This study investigates Jurassic–Cretaceous Northeastern Asia, where the Yanliao and Jehol Biotas flourished amid a prominent tectonic transition from crustal shortening to extension. To explore the impact of these processes on the ecosystem, we use innovative whole-rock geochemical composition-elevation models, alongside a large dataset from Late Triassic–Early Cretaceous arc magmatic rocks, to estimate regional-scale variations in paleo-crustal thickness, paleo-elevation, and paleo-temperature. Our results suggest that during the Jurassic, Northeastern Asia experienced significant crustal thickening, elevation increasing, and inland-ward magmatism due to plate convergence. By the Early Cretaceous, magmatism migrated outboard, driven by Paleo-Pacific slab rollback, leading to differential crustal thickness and elevation across the region. We propose an orogenic plateau with elevations of 2.0–4.5 km and mean annual temperatures of -1.0–12.8°C, creating complex topography that impacted spatiotemporal evolution of regional ecosystems and explains the high-elevation and cold habitats of the Yanliao and Jehol Biotas.