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The diversity of mammals on planet earth today is due to the process of adaptive radiation. What is adaptive radiation?

User Philops
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Final answer:

Adaptive radiation is the process in which a population of one species evolves into multiple species due to the varied demands of their new lifestyles. This results in many adaptations evolving from a single point of origin and the formation of several new species. The Hawaiian honeycreeper is an example of adaptive radiation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Adaptive radiation is a process in which a population of one species disperses throughout an area and each population finds a distinct niche or isolated habitat. Over time, the varied demands of their new lifestyles lead to multiple speciation events originating from a single species, resulting in the evolution of many adaptations from a single point of origin. This causes the original species to radiate into several new ones. An example of adaptive radiation is the Hawaiian honeycreeper, in which numerous species have evolved from a single species, known as the founder species.

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