Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
adaptive radiation
Noun
/əˈdæptɪv ˈreɪdiˌeɪʃən/
Definition
Adaptive radiation is the process in which a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a variety of forms to adapt to different environments.
Examples
- The finches on the Galapagos Islands are a classic example of adaptive radiation.
- After the extinction event, mammals underwent adaptive radiation and evolved into many new species.
Meaning
It refers to the evolution of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches.
Synonyms
- Evolutionary diversification
- Speciation
- Ecological diversification
