Question

What is the main driver of adaptive radiation?

Answer 1

Adaptive Radiation:

1. Adaptive Radiation refers to the adaptation of an organism that enables them to spread successfully or radiate into other environments.
2. According to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, living organisms change their physical and anatomical structures over a long period of time for better adaptations to the changing environment.

Driver of adaptive radiation:

1. The main driving force for adaptive radiation is the new adaptive zone or ecological opportunity.
2. Organisms get adapted to the new ecological environment. E.g. Darwin’s finches, Australian Marsupials.
3. Adaptive radiation leads to the diversification of a common ancestral species to many related species with diverse characteristics.