Question

Adaptive radiation refers to

• A. Evolution of different species from a common ancestor
• B. Migration of members of a species to different geographical areas
• C. Power of adaptation in an individual to a variety of environments
• D. Adaptation due to geographical isolation

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Adaptive radiation (divergent evolution) is the evolution from one species of animals or plants of a number of different forms. As the original population increases in size it spreads out from its centre of origin to exploit new habitats and food sources. In time this results in a number of populations each adapted to its particular habitat: eventually these populations will differ from each other sufficiently to become new species. A good example of this process is the evolution of the Australian marsupials into species adapted as carnivores, herbivores, burrowers, fliers, etc. On a smaller scale, the adaptive radiation of the Galapagos finches provided Darwin with crucial evidence for his theory of evolution.