Adaptive+Radiation

Adaptive Radiation is a species that has been diversely adapted from a common ancestor due to

the in a various new environmental opportunities and/or challenges. This occurs when a few

organisms move off to a new distant area when the environment changes due to numerous

extinctions which open up niches for survivors(1). An example of this would be the finches

discovered on the Galapagos Islands. The finches on the islands previously lived on the South

American mainland. They now live on the Galapagos Islands 600 miles away, where they fit into

the ecological niche with little or no problem(2).



(1). AP Biology Book page 480

(2). http://www.biology-online.org/2/15_adaptive_radiation.htm

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