Question

Describe one example of adaptive radiation.

Answer 1

Hint: An adaptive radiation is a sudden rapid change or variation in the organism’s adaptation. The reasons for this particular adaptation are when there is change in environment and also new resources that are available.

Complete step by step answer:
-The adaptive radiation is a type of evolutionary adaptation that has happened suddenly from an ancestral species into a number of different forms. This adaptation results in distinct species evolution (speciation) and external appearances adaptation that shows a range of different morphological and physiological traits in the new evolved forms.
The adaptive radiation can be identified by the following points:
-A set of species has a common ancestry.
-The phenotype resembles the adaptation to the changing environment. These traits are developed to exploit the environment for survival.
-The adapted traits are utilised and the organisms fit into the environment.
-Rapid speciation meaning rapidly evolving species into different species.
-Darwin’s finches are the first epic example of adaptive radiation. They are a group of passerine birds which have about 18 species. They have shown the rapid distinct forms in the beak of the passerine birds.

Note:
Adaptive radiation is a rapid evolutionary change in species. Marsupials have also developed from a single ancestor and have shown distinct forms.