The proliferation of a large number of daughter species from a single ancestor is known as
A) an evolutionary radiation.
B) an evolutionary explosion.
C) an adaptive explosion.
D) reinforcement.
E) Darwin's process.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The proliferation of a large number of daughter species from a single ancestor is known as an evolutionary radiation. This term refers to a process in which a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into multiple descendant species that occupy different ecological niches or geographical locations. This pattern is often observed in the fossil record and is thought to result from adaptive radiation, where natural selection drives the diversification of traits that enable the descendants to exploit various resources and habitats.

The Proliferation of a Large Number of Daughter Species from a Single