Question

Why do island chains provide ideal conditions for adaptive radiation to occur?; Two species of fish had recently undergone sympatric speciation. The males of each species had a different coloring through which females could identify and choose a partner from her species. After some time, pollution made the lake so cloudy it was hard for females to distinguish colors. What might take place in this situation?

a) Island chains offer diverse ecological niches; In the polluted lake, females may choose mates randomly.
b) Island chains limit competition among species; In the polluted lake, one species may outcompete the other.
c) Island chains prevent adaptation; In the polluted lake, females may rely on other sensory cues for mate selection.
d) Island chains decrease speciation; In the polluted lake, both species may go extinct.

Answer 1

Island chains provide diverse ecological niches that promote adaptive radiation, while in a polluted lake, females may rely on other sensory cues for mate selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Island chains provide ideal conditions for adaptive radiation to occur due to their diverse ecological niches. Adaptive radiation is the rapid evolution of multiple new species from a common ancestor, and it often occurs when organisms colonize new and varied environments. In island chains, each island can represent a different ecological niche, allowing for the evolution of distinct species.

In the case of the polluted lake, it is likely that females may rely on other sensory cues for mate selection. Since they cannot distinguish colors due to the cloudy water, they would need to rely on other traits or behaviors to choose a mate. This could result in unpredictable or random selection of mates, which may have consequences for the population dynamics of the species.