Which of the following would tend to promote adaptive radiation?
A) An organism has a very stable set of features and capabilities over long spans of evolutionary time.
B) An organism colonizes an isolated area that is habitable but relatively devoid of life.
C) An organism colonizes an area that already has a high level of existing species diversity.
D) A single species goes extinct, but it has several competitors that quickly expand to assume its ecological roles.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Adaptive radiation occurs when a group of organisms colonizes a new, unoccupied habitat or environment. Option B describes such a scenario where an organism colonizes an isolated area that is habitable but relatively devoid of life, providing opportunities for the evolution of new species through adaptations to the new environment. The other options do not describe conditions that would promote adaptive radiation.

Which of the Following Would Tend to Promote Adaptive Radiation