Question

A report describes the biodiversity of an island in a remote archipelago in the Pacific Ocean having a larger number of species of birds than neighboring islands. The biologists that investigated the ecosystem of the island described it as an example of adaptive radiation. Their conclusion is most likely based on the fact that they observed ______.

a) Low species richness
b) High genetic uniformity
c) Rapid speciation and diversification
d) Declining population size

Answer 1

Biologists concluded an ecosystem demonstrated adaptive radiation because they likely observed rapid speciation and diversification, which is when a single species evolves into many species to occupy various niches.

Step-by-step explanation:

The biologists that investigated the ecosystem of an island in a remote archipelago in the Pacific Ocean described it as an example of adaptive radiation most likely because they observed c) Rapid speciation and diversification. Adaptive radiation involves the rapid branching through speciation of a single species into many closely related species, often filling various niches in an environment. Islands in an archipelago provide an ideal setting for adaptive radiation due to geographical isolation, leading to diverse habitats and reduced competition, thereby allowing a single 'founder species' to evolve into multiple specialized forms.

For instance, the Hawaiian honeycreeper is a classic example of adaptive radiation, where from one original species, many new species have arisen, each with adaptations to different environmental niches. Similarly, Darwin's finches in the Galápagos Islands exemplify adaptive radiation where each species adapted to a different food source or lifestyle, culminating in a high biodiversity on the islands.