What is adaptive radiation?

Adaptive radiation refers to the rapid diversification of a single ancestor species into a range of forms that are adapted to different environments or ecological niches. This process often occurs when a population of organisms encounters new environments that present various opportunities and challenges. As a result, some traits become more advantageous than others, leading to the evolution of distinct species from a common ancestor.

For example, the classic case of adaptive radiation is seen in the finches of the Galápagos Islands, where different species evolved beak shapes suited to different food sources. This adaptive diversification allows the species to exploit diverse resources, reducing competition and increasing survival rates in varied environments.

In contrast, options that talk about species extinction, vertical growth in a single environment, or converging evolution of unrelated species do not capture the essence of how adaptive radiation functions. These concepts do not involve the rapid diversification and adaptation stemming from a single ancestral species as the central focus.