Question

What type of divergent adaptation occurs when a very small subpopulation becomes separated and divergent adaptation is quick?

Answer 1

The divergent adaptation in a small, isolated subpopulation that evolves quickly is known as rapid speciation and aligns with the concept of punctuated equilibrium, contrasting with the broader and slower process of adaptive radiation. Such rapid changes are often seen in isolated habitats where environmental conditions change suddenly, as shown by island species.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of divergent adaptation that occurs when a very small subpopulation becomes separated and adaptation is quick is an example of rapid speciation, often associated with the concept of punctuated equilibrium. This can happen in scenarios where environmental conditions change abruptly, leading to fast selection pressures on a small, isolated population, causing rapid evolutionary changes. Adaptive radiation can be considered a broader context in which a single species diversifies into multiple species, exploiting different niches over a longer time scale, and this process is often seen in island ecosystems such as the Hawaiian Islands.

Contrasting adaptive radiation, which typically happens over a broader time scale and involves diversification into several new species, punctuated equilibrium describes periods of little change (stasis) interrupted by brief, rapid changes involving speciation. In cases like those of the Hawaiian honeycreeper and the East African cichlid fish, geographical or reproductive isolation leads to adaptive radiation, but when conditions cause a small population to diverge quickly from its ancestor, often due to extreme environmental shifts, it reflects punctuated equilibrium. Such events are significant in the study of microevolution and biogeography.

Answer 2

Of the following given choices;

(A) Allopatric Speciation

(B) Peripatric speciation

(C) Parapatric speciation

(D) Sympatric speciation

The answer is; A

This type of speciation occurs when a subpopulation of a population is isolated from the rest of the group either by geographical features such as mountains, valleys, and etcetera. The subpopulation is unable to mate randomly with the rest of the population and hence adapt slowly to their local environment. This, over time, causes reproductive isolation of the subpopulation from the rest of the population hence evolving into a new species.