The Question is from neet-zoology , and it was created by the author T HARITHA

Question

Adaptive radiation is a process of rapid diversification from an ancestral species. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic feature of adaptive radiation?

T HARITHA · Accepted Answer

## CORE INFORMATION
✓ **Answer**: D
## CONCEPT FRAMEWORK
	**Primary Concept**: Adaptive Radiation
	**Related Topics**: Evolution, Speciation, Natural Selection, Phylogeny
	**Prerequisites**: Basic understanding of evolutionary processes.
## SOLUTION PATHWAY
**Given Information**:
	Adaptive radiation is a rapid diversification of species from a common ancestor.
**Method & Steps**:
	1. **Understand Adaptive Radiation**: Adaptive radiation involves the rapid evolution of new species from a single ancestral species, often occurring when a new environment opens up or a new adaptation allows access to previously unavailable resources.
	Reasoning: This rapid diversification is driven by natural selection favoring different traits in different environments or niches.
	2. **Analyze the Options**: Consider each option in the context of the definition of adaptive radiation.
	Working: Evaluate whether each characteristic is typically associated with adaptive radiation.
	3. **Identify the Incorrect Characteristic**: Determine which option contradicts the key features of adaptive radiation.
	Result: 'Slow and gradual diversification over time' is the opposite of rapid diversification.
	Verification: Adaptive radiation is specifically known for its rapid pace of speciation.
## OPTION ANALYSIS
[A] ✓: Common ancestry of the diversified species: This is a defining characteristic of adaptive radiation. All the diversified species originate from a single ancestral species.
[B] ✓: Phenotype-environment correlation:  Adaptive radiation often leads to a strong correlation between the phenotypes of the diversified species and the specific environments they occupy.  Natural selection favors traits that enhance survival and reproduction in each respective environment.
[C] ✓: Trait utility: The traits that diversify during adaptive radiation are typically useful adaptations that allow the new species to exploit different resources or niches.  These traits enhance their fitness in their respective environments.
[D] ✘: Slow and gradual diversification over time: This is the incorrect characteristic. Adaptive radiation is characterized by *rapid* diversification, not slow and gradual change.
## LEARNING AIDS
	**Common Mistakes**:
		1. Confusing adaptive radiation with other evolutionary processes: Distinguish adaptive radiation from gradual speciation or convergent evolution.
		2. Misinterpreting the timescale: Remember that the 'rapid' in adaptive radiation is relative to typical evolutionary timescales, not necessarily instantaneous.
	**Quick Tips**:
		1. Think of Darwin's finches: This is a classic example of adaptive radiation, showcasing rapid diversification of beak shapes adapted to different food sources.
		2. Visualize a branching tree: Imagine a rapid burst of branching from a single point on a phylogenetic tree, representing the rapid speciation in adaptive radiation.

T HARITHA · Answer

Common ancestry of the diversified species

T HARITHA · Answer

Phenotype-environment correlation

T HARITHA · Answer

Trait utility

T HARITHA · Answer

The correct Option is "Slow and gradual diversification over time"

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