I think your answer will be to 'soak up.'
A slow change such as continents moving will create differences in ecosystems. This is also the same effect caused by a rapid change such a meteorite striking earth. These two phenomena will create diversity and different living conditions. The slow change however, will give organisms time to adopt giving them a good chance of survival unlike a rapid change which will give most, if not all, organisms little chance to survive.
Magnetic poles that are alike repel each other.
