Mitter and colleagues compared species richness in some closely related groups of true bugs (hemipterans).The common ancestor of these groups was a predator that fed on other insects, but a dietary shift to herbivory (eating plants) was found to have evolved at least twice in the groups studied.The herbivorous groups of insects have many more species than those that are predatory.In this case, the rate of speciation appears to be influenced by
A) sexual selection.
B) poor dispersal ability.
C) dietary specialization.
D) adaptation.
E) hybrid zones.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dietary specialization of the herbivorous groups appears to have led to a higher rate of speciation, resulting in more species in these groups compared to the predatory groups.

Mitter and Colleagues Compared Species Richness in Some Closely Related