A hypothetical island lies far from any other landmasses. There are many different types of plants, but only one animal-a beetle that can fly or walk from plant to plant and feeds by chewing leaves. Which morphological change would be most likely to trigger an adaptive radiation of the beetles?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The island contains many different types of plants, which suggests that there is potential for beetles that can utilize different food sources to fill different ecological niches. A mouthpart that can pierce fruits and seeds would allow the beetles to feed on a wider variety of plants and potentially occupy new niches, leading to an adaptive radiation. The other two options (B and C) may provide some advantages, but they are unlikely to lead to such a significant diversification of the beetle population.

A Hypothetical Island Lies Far from Any Other Landmasses