Hi, now we discuss a very interesting topic in adaptation biology, adaptive radiation and its examples. Before we go in more detail we should know what adaptive radiation is. Suppose an animal of a species started to live in a different environment then all the members of that particular species show adaptation to their own environment.
It is sure that they take a long long time to adapt in an environment but over a long period a single species turns into multiple species. It looks like radiation because members of a species spread in different environments and become another species in different directions. This phenomenon is popularly known as adaptive radiation in biology.
In an environment various factors change with time and animals also have to bring adaptation in their physiology and behaviour to survive that changing environment. When animals reach a new environment they have to adapt in that new environment.
And when members of a species spread in different directions and are able to adapt in those environments. It creates different species from a species and it is a very important process in evolution.
Darwin observed this process during his investigation on Galapagos Islands. Darwin noticed that all the finches in Galapagos islands are not the same; they have different types of beaks.
Some of them live in such an environment where a lot of cactus is available. So their beaks adapted for eating cactus which makes them into a new species over a long time. Some of them live in such environments where a lot of insects are available. So their beaks are fit for eating insects. As a result these insectivorous finches become a new species of finches over long periods.
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Examples of Adaptive Radiation:
Now we will list some examples of adaptive radiation which will make our concept more clear about adaptive radiation. In our surroundings most of the species we see today are results of adaptive radiation.
The species we can see today do not exist from their origin; they are adapted form. Suppose two species which are looking so different to us today but may be they arise from a single species by the process of adaptive radiation. Now think about the effect of the environment on organisms.
Adaptive Radiation in Marsupials:
In Australian subcontinent all present day marsupials orders are the result of adaptive radiation from a single order Euaustralidelphia. With time they spread in different directions and adapt to different environments.
Adaptive Radiation in Darwin’s Finches:
As we discussed before Darwin’s finches are examples of adaptive radiation. We know that the different species of Finches arises from a single species of finch due to adaptive radiation.
When all the members of a finch species spread in different environments they face different environment conditions they adapt in those environmental conditions. Some have specialised beak for insects eating while some have specialised beak for eating the cactus. Because food availability in different environments was not of the same types.
Skin Colour Due to Adaptive Radiation:
Different skin colours in humans are also a result of adaptive radiation. Dark skin colour is due to melanin pigment present in skin while fair skin colour is due to presence of pheomelanin. All the hominids spread from their original location to different environments.
The members of hominids who migrated to the region where sunlight exposure is very strong have a large amount of melanin synthesis occurs. As a result their skin colour becomes darker but on the opposite side the members of hominids who live in low intensity sunlight regions produce pheomelanin. As a result their skin colour is lighter and fair than other hominids.
Reference: Adaptive Radiation and its Examples
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