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
The diversity in the type of finches and adaptation to different feeding habits on the Galapagos islands, as observed by Darwin, provides an evidence of
Origin of species by natural selection
Intraspecific variation
Intraspecific competition
Interspecific competition
When more than one adaptive radiation occurred in an isolated geographical area
Convergent evolution
Divergent evolution
Chemical evolution
All of the above
When more than one adaptive radiation occurred in an isolated geographical area
Convergent evolution
Divergent evolution
Chemical evolution
All of the above
Which of the following statement is correct?
The area of a circle can be expressed in terms of its circumference, but the volume of a sphere cannot be expressed in terms of its surface area.
The area of a circle cannot be expressed in terms of its circumference, but the volume of a sphere can be expressed in terms of its surface area.
Neither the area of a circle can be expressed in terms of its circumference, nor the volume of a sphere can be expressed in terms of its surface area.
Both the area of a circle can be expressed in terms of its circumference, and the volume of a sphere can be expressed in terms of its surface area.
Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands exhibit diverse beak morphologies adapted to different food sources. Which of the following BEST describes the genetic mechanism underlying this diversification, assuming the ancestral finch population had limited beak variation?
Horizontal gene transfer from other bird species introduced new beak morphologies.
Hybridization between different finch species generated novel beak shapes.
Mutations in regulatory genes controlling beak development led to variations upon which natural selection acted.
Environmental factors directly induced heritable changes in beak structure.
Darwin’s finches represents
Morphological variation
Geographical isolation
Climatic variation
Reproductive isolation
Identify the correct statement
Evolution is a directed process
Evolution is not a stochastic process
Adaptive radiation leads to evolution
Evolution occurs in the absence of natural selection
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
The classical example of adaptive radiation in development of new species is
Darwin’s finches
Marsupials of Australia
Giant turtle
All of these
Which of the following is not an examples of adaptive radiation?
Wombat, marsupial rat, flying phalanges
Darwin’s finches
Different placental mammals in Australia
Placental wolf and Tasmanian wolf
