BRAINCAKEAdaptive Radiation
Adaptive radiation is the rapid evolution of many new species from a single common ancestor, with each new species adapted to a different niche.
It usually happens when an ancestral species reaches an environment with many unoccupied niches and few competitors. This can happen when:
1. Organisms colonise a new, isolated area, such as a group of islands.
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Key terms in this lesson
- niche
- The role of a species within its habitat, including the resources it uses and the conditions it needs.
- endemic species
- A species that is found naturally in only one geographical area and nowhere else in the world.
More in Natural Selection
- Types of Isolation
- Allopatric Speciation
- Endemic Species
- Desert Pupfish
- Sympatric Speciation
- Howea Palm Tree
- Fruit Fly Rhagoletis pomonella
- Cichlid Fish
All 29 lessons in Natural Selection · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics