Tectonic and environmental control on rodent diversity in the Plio-Pleistocene sediments of the African Rift System

Abstract
Tectonic, sedimentological, climatic and zoo-geographic data are combined in order to explain faunal development in the East African Rift Valley during Plio-Pleistocene times. The main factors controlling the evolution of rodents are the tectonic events which influence local sedimentation and climate, and not only the global climatic glacial events which appear to have reduced effects in the rift valley.