Figure 27.9

-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.Given that the beetle is not exploiting all the resources on the island,which morphological change would be most likely to trigger an adaptive radiation of the beetles?

Question

Figure 27.9
 
-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.Given that the beetle is not exploiting all the resources on the island,which morphological change would be most likely to trigger an adaptive radiation of the beetles?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The addition of a mouthpart that can pierce fruits and seeds would allow the beetle to access a new resource, potentially leading to an adaptive radiation. A change in wing shape may improve flight speed, but it would not necessarily lead to the exploitation of new resources. An additional segment on a pair of legs may also provide some new opportunities, but it is not as directly related to accessing new resources as the ability to pierce fruits and seeds.

Figure 27.9 -A Hypothetical Island Lies Far from Any Other Landmasses.There Are