Adaptive radiation can be considered a macroevolutionary process. Which of the following provides the MOST direct evidence for adaptive radiation in the fossil record?
A gradual, linear progression of changes in a single lineage over a long period.
The discovery of transitional fossils showing intermediate forms between ancestral and descendant species.
A sudden appearance of many related species in a relatively short geological timeframe, often correlated with a new environment or resource.
The presence of homologous structures in distantly related organisms.
Related Questions
How might an evolutionary biologist explains why a species of birds has evolved a larger beak size?
Large beak size occurred as a result of mutation in each member of the population
The ancestors of this bird species encountered a tree with larger than the average sized seeds. They needed to develop larger beaks in order to eat the larger seeds and over time, they adapted to meet this need
Some members of the ancestral population had larger beaks than others. If larger beak size was advantageous, they would be more likely to survive and reproduce. As such, large beaked birds increased in frequency relative to small beaked birds
There is no way to explain such phenomenon in evolutionary terms
