Which of the Following is an Example of Adaptive Radiation

Question

Which of the following is an example of adaptive radiation?
A)the evolution of the whale
B)the breeding of mice
C)the origin of elephants
D)the evolution of different species of Hawaiian honey creepers
E)the cultivation of different types of corn

Accepted Answer

Adaptive radiation occurs when a single ancestral species gives rise to a variety of species,each adapted to a specific environment.On the Hawaiian Islands,a wide variety of honeycreepers are descended from a common goldfinch-like ancestor that arrived from Asia or North America about 5 million years ago.Today,honeycreepers have a range of beak sizes and shapes for feeding on various food sources,including seeds,fruits,flowers,and insects.