When visiting Hawaii on vacation, a tourist notices that there are many different species of birds that look similar to one another, but are distinct in their ecology and in the morphology (beak size and shape) that helps make them successful in different habitats on the island. The tourist supposes they are closely related and result from an adaptive radiation. Which of the following statements would provide the STRONGEST evidence they are the result of an adaptive radiation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Showing a single common ancestor for the group is the strongest evidence that these bird species resulted from an adaptive radiation. This indicates that a single ancestral species was able to rapidly diversify into different species that all share a common ancestor. The other options provide less strong evidence, as hybridization, variation in beak length, and movement throughout the island could all occur in situations unrelated to adaptive radiation.

When Visiting Hawaii on Vacation, a Tourist Notices That There