Essay 1: Adaptive Radiation
Adaptive radiation is the fundamental mechanism responsible for the great variety of animal and plant species observed today and that dominated the Earth surface in the past (MacDonald, 2003). In simpler terms, adaptive radiation is the diversification of species to occupy a wide range of ecological niches. The term ecological niche describes the role of a species within its surrounding environment; its interaction with the biotic and abiotic environmental factors; its survival strategies including its breeding distinctive characteristics (Cox and Moore, 1985). Adaptive radiation occurs when a single ancestral species gives rise to different descends through episodes of speciation that remain sympatric, in other words …show more content…
Adaptive radiation usually occurs when an individual organism becomes the first to colonize a new vacant land. Because this individual has no competition, it has the advantage to explore the several different lifestyles of the land causing it to split into different species. Physical features of a species later change with respect to environmental changes giving rise to unique adaptations traits depending on the type of environment. A niche space inhabited by a species that recently underwent adaptive radiation can sometimes be referred to as the adaptive zones (MacDonald, 2003). Adaptive radiation can be triggered by unexpected abrupt environmental changes such as the occurrence of floods or volcanic activities on isolated islands. When a species is exposed to changes in environmental conditions, it can either adapt to new conditions or die out (Brown and Lomolino, 1998). Varying environmental factors affect environments differently, no single species can be able to withstand all conditions since they not uniform for all places. A single species can only be well adapted to its distinctive environment. Environmental changes in most cases often force species to change rapidly along with
Adaptive radiation is the fundamental mechanism responsible for the great variety of animal and plant species observed today and that dominated the Earth surface in the past (MacDonald, 2003). In simpler terms, adaptive radiation is the diversification of species to occupy a wide range of ecological niches. The term ecological niche describes the role of a species within its surrounding environment; its interaction with the biotic and abiotic environmental factors; its survival strategies including its breeding distinctive characteristics (Cox and Moore, 1985). Adaptive radiation occurs when a single ancestral species gives rise to different descends through episodes of speciation that remain sympatric, in other words …show more content…
Adaptive radiation usually occurs when an individual organism becomes the first to colonize a new vacant land. Because this individual has no competition, it has the advantage to explore the several different lifestyles of the land causing it to split into different species. Physical features of a species later change with respect to environmental changes giving rise to unique adaptations traits depending on the type of environment. A niche space inhabited by a species that recently underwent adaptive radiation can sometimes be referred to as the adaptive zones (MacDonald, 2003). Adaptive radiation can be triggered by unexpected abrupt environmental changes such as the occurrence of floods or volcanic activities on isolated islands. When a species is exposed to changes in environmental conditions, it can either adapt to new conditions or die out (Brown and Lomolino, 1998). Varying environmental factors affect environments differently, no single species can be able to withstand all conditions since they not uniform for all places. A single species can only be well adapted to its distinctive environment. Environmental changes in most cases often force species to change rapidly along with