What is adaptive radiation?
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Correct answer: Rapid diversification of a lineage into species suited to different niches
Adaptive radiation refers to rapid speciation from a common ancestor into many species, each adapted to exploit distinct ecological niches — explaining much of biodiversity.
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More Evolution and speciation questions
- Which phenomenon can lead to loss of genetic variation and increase the probability of fixation of deleterious alleles in small populations?
- Which outcome is LEAST likely if two populations remain in contact and continue exchanging migrants (gene flow)?
- Which process introduces new heritable variation into a population that can be acted upon by evolutionary forces?
- How can sexual selection contribute to speciation within a population?
- Which pattern of evolution describes the evolution of similar traits independently in unrelated lineages due to similar selective pressures?
- What does the term “reproductive isolation” refer to in the context of speciation?