Adaptive radiation is a biological phenomenon that occurs when a single ancestral species gives rise to multiple, diverse descendant species. This process is characterized by rapid diversification and adaptation to different ecological niches, resulting in the emergence of new species with unique characteristics and traits.
Definitions
Adaptive radiation is defined as the process by which a single ancestral species diversifies into multiple descendant species, each adapted to a different ecological niche. This process is driven by natural selection and genetic variation, and results in the emergence of new species with unique characteristics and adaptations.
Origin
The concept of adaptive radiation was first proposed by Charles Darwin in his theory of evolution. Darwin observed that species tend to diversify and adapt to different ecological niches over time, leading to the emergence of new species with distinct characteristics and traits. This process is driven by natural selection, which favors individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment, and results in the emergence of new species with unique adaptations.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, adaptive radiation is “the diversification of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches, resulting in the emergence of new species with unique characteristics and adaptations.” Merriam-Webster defines adaptive radiation as “the diversification of a group of organisms into multiple descendant species, each adapted to a different ecological niche.”
Associations
Adaptive radiation is closely associated with the process of evolution, as it represents a major mechanism by which new species emerge and diversify over time. This process is driven by natural selection and genetic variation, and results in the emergence of new species with unique characteristics and adaptations.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of adaptive radiation include divergent evolution, speciation, and ecological radiation.
Antonyms
There are no true antonyms of adaptive radiation, as it represents a natural process of evolution and diversification.
The same root words
The root words of adaptive radiation are “adapt,” which means to adjust to different conditions, and “radiation,” which refers to the process of spreading out from a central point. Together, these words describe the process by which a single ancestral species adapts and diversifies into multiple descendant species.
Example Sentences
- The adaptive radiation of finches on the Galapagos Islands is a classic example of how natural selection can drive the emergence of new species.
- The rapid diversification of mammals during the Cenozoic era is a result of adaptive radiation in response to changing environmental conditions.
- The emergence of new species of cichlid fish in African lakes is a result of adaptive radiation driven by ecological competition and niche specialization.