Exemplar Problems

Question:

Describe one example of adaptive radiation.

Answer:

Adaptive radiation refers to the rapid diversification of species from a common ancestor into various ecological niches. An example is the finches of the Galápagos Islands. These finches, believed to have descended from a common ancestor, adapted to different food sources and environments on the islands. Some developed strong beaks for cracking seeds, while others evolved long beaks for feeding on insects or cactus nectar. This diversification occurred due to the availability of different ecological niches on the islands.