Question

Extensive adaptive radiations have usually followed in the wake of mass extinctions mainly because ______.

Options

• many adaptive zones are vacated

• conditions of the physical environment are usually at their most favourable after some crisis has passed

• the survivors have superior adaptations th.at enable them to spill into many environments when conditions improve after the extinction episode

• given a stable environment, biological diversity tends to increase

Answer 1

Extensive adaptive radiations have usually followed in the wake of mass extinctions mainly because many adaptive zones are vacated.

Explanation:

Extensive adaptive radiations usually follow mass extinctions because the mass extinction events vacate many ecological niches (adaptive zones). This leaves numerous opportunities for the surviving species to diversify and adapt to these newly available environments, leading to rapid speciation and evolution. The survivors can exploit these empty niches, resulting in increased biological diversity after the extinction event.