Final answer:
The correct answer is option b. The adaptive radiation of a second group can be promoted by the success of one group when the latter provides new resources or niches, leading to diversification and speciation in the second group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The success of one group of organisms can promote the adaptive radiation of a second group through several mechanisms. However, the most supportive scenario for this interaction is option B: by providing new food resources, habitats, etc., for the second group. This option aligns with the foundational concept that adaptive radiation is often driven by the availability of new niches or resources. When a group of organisms proliferates and diversifies, it can create a variety of new opportunities for others to exploit.
For example, if one species develops a new trait that allows it to exploit a previously unused resource, it might open up an ecological space for another species to adapt to. This is seen in island archipelagos like the Hawaiian Islands, where isolated habitats and limited resources promote the diversification of species as observed in the Hawaiian honeycreeper. Each species adapts to a newly available niche, leading to multiple speciation events from one original source or founder species.