A population of a species invades a new area. Which of the following condition will lead to Adaptive Radiation ?
Answer: (C) Area with many types of vacant habitats. Answer: (C) Area with many types of vacant habitats.
- A.Area with large number of habitats having very low food supply
- B.Area with a single type of vacant habitat
- C.Area with many types of vacant habitats✓
- D.Area with many habitats occupied by a large number of species
Correct Answer
(C) Area with many types of vacant habitats
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (C) Area with many types of vacant habitats. Adaptive radiation is the evolution of different species starting from a point and radiating to other habitats/areas of geography (as in Darwin's finches and Australian marsupials). For this to happen, an invading population needs multiple unoccupied (vacant) habitats into which divergent forms can diversify. A single vacant habitat, very low food supply, or habitats already saturated with species would not permit such radiation, so option (c) is correct. NCERT Reference: Ch 6 Evolution, p.117, lines 6–9: "This process of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starting from a point and literally radiating to other areas of geography (habitats) is called adaptive radiation. Darwin's finches represent one of the best examples of this phenomenon."