Adaptive Radiation Models

Adaptive radiation refers to the process by which a single ancestor species evolves into a variety of forms that adapt to different environments or lifestyles. This often occurs when organisms occupy new habitats with diverse resources. For example, Darwin's finches evolved different beak shapes to exploit various food sources on the Galápagos Islands. Essentially, adaptive radiation demonstrates how species diversify rapidly to fill ecological roles, leading to greater biodiversity as they adapt to their unique surroundings. This phenomenon illustrates the power of evolution in shaping the variety of life we see today.