Question

Darwin's finches are an example of

• A. Adaptive radiation
• B. Connecting link
• C. Industrial melanism
• D. Convergent evolution

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Adaptive radiation

The correct option is A.

Explanation for correct option:

1. Darwin's finches are a classical example of adaptive radiation.
2. Adaptive radiation of an ancestral population refers to its rapid diversification into ecologically different species which are linked to each other by diversification in physiological divergence and adaptive morphology.

Explanation for incorrect options:

Option B:

1. Connecting link is the term used for an organism that has characteristics of two different groups of organisms.
2. An example of connecting link is the duck-billed platypus which is a connecting link between reptiles and mammals.

Option C:

1. Industrial melanism is an evolutionary effect where dark pigmentation has evolved in an environment affected by industrial pollution.
2. Industrial melanism has widely affected moths and butterflies.

Option D:

1. Convergent evolution refers to the evolution of structures of different lineages that are analogous.

Final Answer: Darwin's finches are an example of adaptive radiation.