Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the best explanation for species diversifying to fill each new niche?
A
Adaptive radiation
B
Bottleneck effect
C
Convergent evolution
D
Genetic drift
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of a 'niche' in ecology, which refers to the role or position a species has in its environment, including all the interactions it has with the biotic and abiotic factors.
Learn about 'adaptive radiation', which is the process by which organisms diversify rapidly into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, creates new challenges, or opens new environmental niches.
Recognize that adaptive radiation often occurs when a single or a few species colonize a new area with diverse habitats, leading to the evolution of new species that are adapted to different niches.
Differentiate adaptive radiation from other evolutionary processes such as the bottleneck effect, convergent evolution, and genetic drift, which do not primarily focus on the diversification of species to fill new niches.
Conclude that the best explanation for species diversifying to fill each new niche is adaptive radiation, as it directly involves the evolution of species to exploit different ecological niches.